Mélenchon calls for France to leave NATO, boost China ties

French political leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has called for France to leave NATO and adopt a "non-aligned cooperative" foreign policy, emphasizing strengthened ties with China. Speaking at a geopolitical conference, Mélenchon argued against remaining a NATO member or joining new military coalitions, particularly those focused on the Asia-Pacific region.

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There can be no question of remaining a member of NATO, nor of entering into new military coalitions, like those being configured with Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain to confront the Asia-Pacific region.

He criticized "closed-door diplomacy" exemplified by groups like the G7 and G20. Mélenchon believes the perceived decline of U.S. influence should pave the way for a revitalized United Nations. While advocating for France's exit from NATO, he expressed openness to maintaining defense agreements within the European Union and engaging in discussions with Russia to secure mutual guarantees following their withdrawal from Ukraine.

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The opening of the phase of the decline of the United States of America must allow us to work towards the establishment of a renewed UN.

Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, Mélenchon reiterated that border adjustments should not be ruled out, provided they have the consent of the populations involved. He also suggested that Russia's responsibility for the conflict has been overstated, implying that external actors played a significant role in its creation.

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To achieve a peace agreement in Ukraine, we must not exclude 'border changes' but they 'should be done with the agreement of the populations'.

Mélenchon presented a strong case for intensified dialogue with China, defining "cooperative non-alignment" as engaging with nations typically not consulted and rejecting confrontational policies. He stated that if elected president, he would pursue this new direction, noting that China's economic rise has not been accompanied by "imperialist practices," which he contrasted with the United States' approach.

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Cooperative non-alignment therefore means first discussing with those with whom we do not discuss, and absolutely refusing the policy of violent confrontation with China, which means entering into a policy of reinforced cooperation with this country.