NATO worried over French presidential election as some candidates favor leaving alliance

According to Politico, unease is growing within NATO over France's upcoming presidential election, as several potential candidates support withdrawing the country from the alliance or from its integrated command structure. The report notes that recent French polls suggest roughly half of voters could back NATO-skeptical candidates next year.

Le Pen and Mélenchon

Marine Le Pen, informal leader of the far-right National Rally party, wants France to leave NATO's integrated command, while far-left figure Jean-Luc Mélenchon goes further, calling for full withdrawal from the alliance altogether.

Politico stresses that France is the EU's only nuclear power, so its potential exit would shock the alliance — casting doubt on the presence of French troops in Romania and Estonia, limiting access to key combat equipment, and weakening military coordination among NATO's 32 members.

Reactions within the alliance

Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen said he hoped France recognizes the long-term benefits of a strong NATO and maintains its current defense policy stance, which requires fairly full integration into NATO structures. An anonymous NATO diplomat admitted fearing the election outcome, calling the potential loss of France "terrible," though he said the alliance "would survive."

A French official said Le Pen's NATO-related statements are not merely campaign rhetoric, noting she has also argued Paris would eventually need to restore contacts with Moscow. Diplomats further suggested that if France left, Germany could become NATO's leading member in Europe.

Media have also previously reported concerns in Britain about a gradual weakening of the so-called "coalition of the willing," largely tied to Emmanuel Macron's upcoming departure from the French presidency.