Melenchon Calls for France to Leave NATO
Jean-Luc Melenchon called for France to leave NATO, abandon confrontation with China and start dialogue with Russia after the Ukraine conflict.
France should stop acting as a participant in the U.S. foreign policy line and leave NATO, according to Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the La France Insoumise party. He outlined his proposals at a symposium organized by the La Boetie Institute think tank.
The politician called for a course of «joint non-alignment» and the building of pragmatic alliances with new global centers of power. In his view, Paris should no longer take part in new military coalitions or remain inside the North Atlantic Alliance.
Melenchon separately said it was necessary to abandon a hard confrontation with China. He believes that instead of confrontation, France should move toward closer cooperation with Beijing.
The French politician also pointed to the weakening of U.S. influence in the world. Against this backdrop, he believes Paris should stop participating in «closed-club diplomacy," including the G7 format.
Regarding Russia, Melenchon proposed starting direct dialogue on mutual security guarantees after the conflict in Ukraine ends. He believes such a conversation should become part of France’s new foreign policy line.
The left-wing leader also criticized Western rhetoric toward Moscow, effectively linking the current crisis to the short-sighted actions of those who promoted anti-Russian policy.