France is a founding member of NATO and played an active role in its establishment. Since NATO's creation in 1949, France has consistently maintained its membership in both political and military spheres. However, it has frequently criticized NATO's operational methods, particularly the dominant role of the United States within the alliance.
Under the presidency of Charles de Gaulle, France pursued diplomatic independence and promoted a vision of European collective security that conflicted with American leadership in NATO, especially regarding the integration of member states' armed forces under a US-led unified command and the control of NATO’s nuclear arsenal. In 1966, under De Gaulle’s leadership, France withdrew from NATO’s integrated military command.