France's Defense Independence

The cluster discusses France's military capabilities, nuclear deterrent, historical policies under de Gaulle, and push for strategic autonomy from US influence in NATO and defense matters, contrasting it with other European nations.

➡️ Stable 0.6x Politics & Society
2,359
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#6316
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
2
2008
7
2009
5
2010
10
2011
15
2012
15
2013
57
2014
55
2015
163
2016
96
2017
80
2018
99
2019
147
2020
142
2021
436
2022
286
2023
235
2024
203
2025
259
2026
47

Keywords

NATO US AFAIR USSR wikipedia.org LOL youtube.com UK USA EU france french war uk civil war europe army british nuclear russia

Sample Comments

the-dude Aug 11, 2021 View on HN

Wasn't France heavily involved too?

trolliii Sep 20, 2018 View on HN

France is known for building strong defense :)

mmarq Sep 20, 2021 View on HN

France, like any other western country, UK included, is heavily dependent on the USA for defence. France’s low opinion of NATO is part of a broader delusional weltanschauung which sees France as an economic and military superpower. It is staged in a parallel universe where the 19th century never ended and the Franco-Prussian war never happened.

negrit Aug 12, 2021 View on HN

How is France any relevant to this?

cblconfederate Dec 16, 2020 View on HN

Some colonies have asked france to interfere

se0 Jul 11, 2024 View on HN

Yeah, so ? Did you expect France to fight the US ?

llm_trw Dec 3, 2024 View on HN

It was France avoiding the Spanish Civil war.

RalfWausE Sep 20, 2021 View on HN

Since France is a nuclear power i think nothing will happen...

TheLoafOfBread Jun 19, 2023 View on HN

France might have some imperial/colonial intentions, rest of Europe is actively fighting against neocolonialism by supporting Ukraine against Russian imperialism.

BLKNSLVR Jul 28, 2025 View on HN

France has some history in being disappointed by the US, so it doesn't really surprise me that France is beating the independence drum the loudest.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px9qhDGv300&t=150s.(the entire video is interesting and informative, I've skipped it to the France-US specific part, up to about 11:02 where Australia is introduced as the US sycophant it