Le Pen’s NATO Command Pledge Signals a French Break With Alliance Control

France’s next election could bring a major shock to NATO. Marine Le Pen is now pledging that France would remain a NATO member, but withdraw from the alliance’s integrated military command, reopening one of the biggest questions in European defence. Michael Heaver looks at the pressure building around NATO as Trump questions the alliance, US troops shift in Europe, and Brussels openly discusses an EU army. Against that backdrop, Le Pen’s position would mark a dramatic strategic break, echoing France’s 1966 withdrawal from NATO’s integrated command before rejoining under Nicolas Sarkozy in 2009. She argues France should no longer be dependent on decisions made elsewhere and wants NATO to focus more directly on fighting Islamist fundamentalism.