France’s Re-Entry Into NATO Is No “Trojan Horse,” Say Experts

By Laura Woodhead – Talk Radio News Service

A panel of foreign affairs experts argued Tuesday that France’s re-entry into the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization’s military command is not a “Trojan Horse” plot to undermine the power of NATO. Speaking at the Atlantic Council’s discussion “Going from Oui to fait Accompli: France’s Normalization with NATO” the panel discussed the key role that France will play in bringing together the European Union and the United States within NATO.

Leo Michel, a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies, says the idea that France’s re-involvement in NATO will allow them to undermine the organization is ridiculous.

“This is a win, win outcome. It is not cover for some a nefarious French plot to hobble NATO.”

“French reintegration is a vote of confidence in the trans-Atlantic community and provides an example to the rest of the Europe of a common effort towards meeting challenges coming at us” explained Jim Townsend, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO policy.

However, the panel stressed that France’s new role did not mean that the relationship between France and the United States would be “simple and easy.”

” There are some in town that think that the clouds are going to open and rainbows are going to appear and all of a sudden divisions after division of French forces are going to flow into the NATO system…that is just not realistic.” However, Townsend added, “The addition of French strategic thought back into NATO military command…will be a tremendous plus for the alliance.”