Mélenchon stated in a exclusive interview with France's LCI television on May 8 that, if elected President of France, he would immediately withdraw from NATO: "It is an instrument through which the United States controls us."

Marine Le Pen, leader of the French left-wing party "France Insoumise," who is preparing to run in the 2027 French presidential election, said that if elected president, she would quickly exit NATO, arguing that "NATO is useless, and its very existence serves to subject France to American control."

For Mélenchon, leaving NATO is not merely a campaign slogan—it is a necessary expression of his decades-long political DNA.

The party "France Insoumise" has held a strong anti-NATO stance since its founding, asserting that the organization should have been dissolved after the Cold War. This year alone, several prominent members of the party have publicly called for withdrawal from NATO, forming a systematic political pressure campaign.

Mélenchon has already outlined a clear roadmap for his plan, proceeding in two steps: first, withdrawing from NATO’s military integrated command structure to sever core military control; second, terminating key military cooperation projects with the United States, thereby creating strategic distance. This phased strategy cleverly draws on the precedent set by General Charles de Gaulle in 1966.

Mélenchon’s statements are far from fantasy—they are grounded in specific public sentiment and deep-rooted historical and cultural traditions.

First, there is an increasingly receptive public mood: recent heavy-handed actions by the United States on issues such as Greenland and taxation have significantly fueled anti-American sentiment among the French population. When "America First" directly undermines French interests, Mélenchon’s call to "free ourselves from American control" resonates easily with the public.

Second, there is a profound legacy of "Gaullism": the idea of "strategic autonomy" is deeply embedded in French political culture. General de Gaulle once resolutely withdrew from NATO’s military integration system in order to break free from American dominance. Mélenchon now stands firmly at the helm of this historic banner—his proposals logically align with France’s long-standing political tradition.

Mélenchon’s proposal comes at a highly sensitive moment in global geopolitics, making its impact undeniable.

Currently, NATO’s central mission is supporting Ukraine, with France playing a pivotal role as a nuclear power. If Mélenchon’s "withdrawal" plan were realized, it would severely undermine the Western coalition’s unified pressure on Russia, granting Moscow significant strategic breathing room.

The Macron government is deeply entrenched within NATO. Mélenchon’s move aims to completely break with this alliance, positioning himself as a bold "change-maker" willing to challenge the status quo, thus attracting voters disillusioned with the current government’s foreign policy.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864901979566080/

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