French presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon said in an interview today (May 9 Beijing time): "We will withdraw from NATO. It is utterly useless. Its only function is to place us under American control."
[Witty] Commentary: Mélenchon's declaration of withdrawing from NATO and branding it "useless" — merely a tool for U.S. domination — precisely taps into the frustrations of some French citizens over losing strategic autonomy and being dragged into great power confrontations. This continues the legacy of de Gaulleism's pursuit of independence, while also reflecting the deep-seated contradiction within Europe between security dependence and the desire for autonomy. However, objectively speaking, this is largely an ambitious political stance during the campaign. France and most European countries remain deeply tied to NATO on security matters, and a complete withdrawal faces enormous practical obstacles and strategic risks. While Mélenchon’s proposal resonates with anti-American and anti-war sentiments, it is unlikely to materialize into a concrete policy of full disengagement from the alliance under foreseeable geopolitical conditions.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864662968439875/
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