France's return to NATO: the death knell for ESDP?

Abstract

Our article focuses on the likely impact of France's return to NATO's integrated military command on the future of the European security and defense policy (ESDP). First, we describe the triangular relationship between France's defense, NATO and European defense policies that dominated the era of the Gaullist–Mitterrandist consensus (1958–95) and its gradual erosion under Jacques Chirac's tenure (1995–2007). Second, we explain the context in which President Sarkozy made the decision in 2007 to rejoin the Allied military command. Relying on interviews with French foreign and defense policy-makers, we address the extent to which ESDP considerations really played a role. Finally, we develop four scenarios for the future of European defense: (1) ESDP gets a new lease of life; (2) France becomes a normal player in a NATO-dominated Europe; (3) NATO and ESDP work out of a division of labor; and (4) France becomes the Trojan horse of European cooperation inside NATO. To develop each scenario, we rely on rationalist and constructivist mechanisms drawn from International Relations theory.

Keywords:

• NATO
• European security and defense policy
• European Union
• France
• defense policy

Acknowledgements

This article was presented at a workshop on France's Return to NATO, organized by the Centre for International Peace and Security Studies at Herstmonceux Castle, Essex, 12 December 2009. We thank the organizers, Stéfanie von Hlatky, Michel Fortmann and David Haglund, for the invitation. We are also grateful to David Haglund and an anonymous reviewer from European Security who provided extensive comments on a first version of this paper.

Notes

1. Lettre du président de la République Nicolas Sarkozy aux chefs d'Etats et de gouvernement de l'Alliance atlantique, 19 mars 2009 [Letter from M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the French Republic to the Heads of State and the Heads of Government of the Atlantic Alliance, 19 March 2009].

2. Interview, Direction des affaires stratégiques, de sécurité et du désarmement, ministère des Affaires étrangères, July 2008 [Interview, Direction for Strategic Affairs, Security and Disarmament, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paris, 24 July 2008].

3. Interview, Cellule diplomatique, Elysée, May 2009 [Interview Diplomatic Staff of the French Presidency, Elysée Palace, 18 May 2009].