Exclusive Stringer Dispatch: Do the French want to leave NATO's integrated command?

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The #French presidential election is in full swing. Incumbent President Emmanuel #Macron placed first in the first round of the election on April 10, with far-right candidate Marine #Le Pen second. According to election rules, since neither candidate won more than 50 percent of the vote, the two sides will proceed to a second round on April 24.

Le Pen, the leader of the National Rally party, said on April 13 that if she wins the presidential runoff, she would once again leave the military command of the U.S.-led alliance and withdraw France from NATO's integrated military command structure.

In 1966, General Charles de Gaulle withdrew French forces from NATO's command at the height of the Cold War and, the following year, expelled the alliance's headquarters from Paris and Fontainebleau in protest at what he saw as U.S. hegemony in Europe. It wasn't until more than 40 years later that France rejoined the integrated military organization under President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Things have changed a lot in the past five years, both inside and outside France, with developments such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine conflict and the rising cost of living. For Western countries and alliances, a Le Pen presidency would bring fresh challenges.

Will France leave NATO's integrated military command structure again? CGTN Stringer hit the streets of Lyon to ask what residents thought of Le Pen's plan.

[ramonng]

Nato gives you protection, from whom, exactly...?

[barryshaw]

I don’t quite understand who these people think would invade their country. I guess they’re afraid to make their own decisions and be free.

[integragemi]

"NATO provide global protection" lol.
thats what how you a call a deluded person.

[ly]

Why not mention that NATO members are under US’s protectorate? What different would it be to be under Russia’s? Instead of turning to your neighbors to make the zone stronger, they would rather be divided and have US as a big wedge in Europe’s stability. It is so obvious yet these Europeans just miss it🙄

[CondenseFact]

More like whether they would like to give up control of their military decision making (US takes command in war) and be dragged into wars that aren’t in their favour. NATO isn’t defensive, never has been.

[Silvertron]

should ask their opinions on NATO attacking sovereign countries like Yugoslavia.

[KennyL]

France must regain it's pride. Le Pence will be France's new De Gaulle. France must not be afraid to leave NATO.

[PinkR_Tulip]

All the countries are NATO members should be withdraw immediately!!

[wytrose]

Ask Lybia how that worked out for them

[davidjonkers]

Just who is this enemy you french are afraid

[discoverchina]

France and Germany should leave NATO to maintain its military independence!

[chuekaothao]

So worry about Russia but throughout history, war were always waged from western Europe toward Russia, who's the aggressors that needs to be concerned?

[you-to-beornot-to-be]

The EU needs its own military force and not be part of a military organization manipulated by the USA.

[kahhowong]

You don’t need to join NATO to be a Human Shield for Washington and London, Look at Kiev Azov.

[naimulislam]

Z is fully responsible for this situation. Zelensky push R3 to attack Ukraine. Now Zelensky must have to stop the war due to real negotiation

[ricobacalla]

The lyrics of the Chinese national anthem in English

Stand up! Those who refuse to be slaves!
With our flesh and blood, let's build our newest Great Wall!
The Chinese Nation is at its greatest peril,
Each one is forced to let out one last roar.
Stand up! Stand up! Stand up!
We are billions of one heart,
Braving the enemies' fire, March on!
Braving the enemies' fire, March on!
March on! March on! On!

The lyrics of the Chinese national anthem

Qilai! Buyuan zuo nuli de renmen,
Ba women de xuerou zhucheng women xin de changcheng.
Zhonghua Minzu dao liao zui weixian de shihou,
Meigeren beipo zhe fachu zuihou de housheng.
Qilai! Qilai! Qilai!
Women wanzhong yixin,
Mao zhe diren de paohuo,
Qianjin!
Mao zhe diren de paohuo,
Qianjin! Qianjin! Qianjin! Jin!
起来！不愿做奴隶的人们！
把我们的血肉，筑成我们新的长城!
中华民族到了最危险的时候，
每个人被迫着发出最后的吼声。
起来！起来！起来！
我们万众一心，
冒着敌人的炮火，前进
冒着敌人的炮火，前进!
前进！前进！进!

[damsb.]

As a French citizen myself I think that joining this organization was a bad idea, because these last years French soldiers died to protect and feed the American hegemony, France as lost a lot of it's indépendance, we are constantly betrayed by our so called 'allies' the US is using their '' allies'' as human shields to protect their status.

[MrBlurpBlurp-hgdj]

It's time France stand up and decide her own future rather than be dragged into war after wars.

[AJ-Million]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 It's hard wishes for you guys you don't know about regime change they will put you back in the places where you were 🤣🤣

[raven_skywalker]

NATO does not own FRA if FRA wanted to leave it will help FRA and its people to keep moving forward and stop joining on these weastern made conflict aiding NATO interest is waste of FRA tax money.