It's interesting to note that back in 2008, Francois Hollande, then the leader of the official French opposition party, criticized former President Nicolas Sarkozy's attempts to end the tradition of French military independence by giving NATO full control over the country's affairs in the military field.
"Under the leadership of the current tenant of the Elysee Palace [the official residence of the French president], France is about to reintegrate all military bodies to the alliance [NATO]. What Sarkozy began, Hollande is about to finish in style," Marianne reported, citing the French weekly newspaper Le Canard Enchaine.
Back in June of 2015, Marianne criticized the French government for its willingness to be a US "puppet" and blindly following Washington's orders.
"The United States doesn't lack poodles. It's time to stop being the "yes"-kind of member to an organization that brings us unprecedented economic offenses [to France]," Marianne said.
In 1966, under the leadership of President Charles de Gaulle, France pulled its forces out of NATO. De Gaulle wanted to pursue an independent military policy, stating that NATO was dominated by the United States and Britain.
The full reintegration of French troops into NATO's structure would mean Paris would have to coordinate its missions abroad with the United States. In other words, the idea of French exceptionalism in military affairs might be soon over.
