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1/ Day 3 of #NATO7for70 to commemorate 70 years of @NATO!
The third installment is "Adieu: Why France Left"
The third installment is "Adieu: Why France Left"
2/ We often think of “NATO Expansion”. But this was the first case of (partial) contraction.
Specifically, on February 21, 1966, French President Charles de Gaulle announced that France was withdrawing from the military component of NATO
iht-retrospective.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/02/22/196…
Specifically, on February 21, 1966, French President Charles de Gaulle announced that France was withdrawing from the military component of NATO
iht-retrospective.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/02/22/196…
3/ To be clear, France was withdrawing from the “O” of NATO (the integrated military command), not from the “North Atlantic Treaty” itself.
4/ But this was still a problem.
Namely, there were a number of bases with American soldiers on French soil, and they were there as part of NATO’s integrated command. Now all foreign forces had to go (1969 was the deadline)
Namely, there were a number of bases with American soldiers on French soil, and they were there as part of NATO’s integrated command. Now all foreign forces had to go (1969 was the deadline)
5/ So why did France, specifically de Gaulle, do it?
6/ First, it’s important to remember that France was a bit troublesome during the 1948-49 North Atlantic Treaty negotiations. France had threatened to walk over Italian membership and the inclusion of Algeria.
7/ Second, de Gaulle and French officials in general, chaffed at American Hegemony.
This was during the same era when French Finance Minister Valéry Giscard d'Estaing labeled the US dollar an “exorbitant privilege” for 🇺🇸
This was during the same era when French Finance Minister Valéry Giscard d'Estaing labeled the US dollar an “exorbitant privilege” for 🇺🇸
8/ Third, in a word: nukes. France had acquired the bomb in 1960.
The first test is referred to as Gerboise Bleue (👇), it took place in the Algerian desert.
The first test is referred to as Gerboise Bleue (👇), it took place in the Algerian desert.
9/ The bomb was critical. Ever since the Soviets had developed and then accumulated nuclear weapons, the 🇺🇸 "nuclear umbrella" lacked credibility.
This led to an emphasis, within NATO, on conventional forces: what became known, under JFK, as "Flexible Response"
This led to an emphasis, within NATO, on conventional forces: what became known, under JFK, as "Flexible Response"
10/ De Gaulle hated "Flexible Response".
This was because
(1) it place a larger financial burden on European NATO partners to develop and maintain conventional forces
(2) Guess were a conventional war would be fought? Not 🇺🇸soil
This was because
(1) it place a larger financial burden on European NATO partners to develop and maintain conventional forces
(2) Guess were a conventional war would be fought? Not 🇺🇸soil
11/ The USA disliked France having nukes.
Then 🇺🇸Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara referred to French nuclear forces as, "dangerous, expensive, prone to obsolescence and lacking in credibility."
Fun fact: He gave those remarks during the 1962 @UMich commencement address
Then 🇺🇸Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara referred to French nuclear forces as, "dangerous, expensive, prone to obsolescence and lacking in credibility."
Fun fact: He gave those remarks during the 1962 @UMich commencement address
12/ Equipped with his own "force de frappe", De Gaulle had no need for @NATO forces.
France could provide it's own nuclear deterrent, thank you very much!!
France could provide it's own nuclear deterrent, thank you very much!!
13/ One notable consequence of this decision? It’s why NATO is based in Brussels (& Casteau) today.
That’s right: NATO civilian headquarters was in Paris & the military headquarters was in Rocquencourt.
That’s right: NATO civilian headquarters was in Paris & the military headquarters was in Rocquencourt.
14/ While De Gaulle said the civilian headquarters could stay, both bid adieu!
Of course, a beneficiary of that decision was Université Paris-Dauphine, which took over the old @NATO building in Paris
Of course, a beneficiary of that decision was Université Paris-Dauphine, which took over the old @NATO building in Paris
15/ France didn’t reenter the “O” of NATO until 2006. As this DailyMall piece makes clear, it was “celebrated” with much “fanfare”
dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1…
dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1…
16/ France isn’t the only member to leave NATO.
Greece withdrew in 1974 over the Turkish invasion of Cyprus (but Greece reentered in 1980).
Greece withdrew in 1974 over the Turkish invasion of Cyprus (but Greece reentered in 1980).
