Prospect of French NATO return tilts power balance

By Paul Taylor, European Affairs Editor - Analysis

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The prospect of France returning to NATO's military command after more than four decades of estrangement is tilting the balance of transatlantic relations.

The United States is courting France as a new partner in leadership, overshadowing Britain and Germany, diplomats and analysts say, even though President Nicolas Sarkozy is likely to skirt the reintegration issue at this week's Bucharest summit of the 26-nation alliance.

Sarkozy announced last year that Paris was willing to return to the military structure from which General Charles de Gaulle withdrew it abruptly in 1966, provided the European Union first made progress on a common defense capability.

"Sarkozy saw an opening to become America's number one friend," said Nick Witney of the European Council on Foreign Relations in Paris.

"He achieved the benefits almost as soon as he opened his mouth and said 'I love America' and 'Why not reintegrate fully in NATO?'."

NATO diplomats said Sarkozy has privately set a target date of 2009, as long as he gets the necessary political cover, notably from Britain, on enhanced European defense integration so he can argue that NATO is being transformed and "rebalanced".

European and U.S. diplomats say Washington is leaning discreetly on British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to cooperate with the French integration initiative, which U.S. policymakers no longer regard as a threat to NATO.

"France's return to the NATO command is a big prize and we are keen to help President Sarkozy make it happen," said a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

U.S. NATO Ambassador Victoria Nuland has given speeches in London and Paris making clear Washington no longer has a problem with the European Security and defense Policy (ESDP).

The issue is sensitive in Britain, where Eurosceptics remain fiercely opposed to any idea of a "European army".

During a visit to London last week, Sarkozy made no public mention of a long-standing French wish for the EU to boost its military planning apparatus. Britain has been wary of anything that would resemble a full-blown EU defense headquarters.

ADDED VALUE

The French leader is expected to illustrate his value to the alliance by announcing in Bucharest the dispatch of some 1,000 extra combat troops to reinforce NATO in Afghanistan.

A senior NATO diplomat noted Sarkozy's move comes at a time when Britain's armed forces are overstretched and Brown is keen to reduce overseas commitments, and Germany's "grand coalition" is shackled by public opposition to any combat role.

"The French can supply the forces now when we need them," the NATO diplomat said. "That counts for a lot."