The Atlantic Alliance: In announcing this evening that France will return to the integrated command

For the Elysée, French reintegration is therefore considered as lifting a taboo, the end of a certain hypocrisy. The return of France to the integrated command is supposed to bring many advantages. Paris hopes to have its say in the planning of operations.  In restoring the confidence of our Eastern European allies, who suspect us of wanting to weaken the alliance, France hopes that the rapprochement will allow acceleration of the parallel construction of a European defense capability still in its infancy.  Stephen Flanagan, vice-president of the Center for International Strategic and Studies (CSIS) in Washington, is persuaded of it: “The United States will be more relaxed with respect to a European defense capability when France returns to NATO.”  All that without losing our independence, assures the Elysée, since decisions within l' Alliance are always taken by consensus…

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