ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of Soviet analysts' perceptions of French security policy since the establishment of the independent nuclear force in the mid-1960s. It outlines the evolution of French security policy as perceived by Soviet analysts. The chapter analyzes soviet perceptions of the French force structure to determine Soviet views on the independence of French forces. It discusses soviet perceptions of the political and military impact of French security policy. The Soviet literature on France is of relatively high quality and reflects a serious effort to comprehend the structure and dynamics of French policy. Soviet analysts perceive that French security policy has gone through three phases of development since France created its independent nuclear force. General Charles de Gaulle sought to create a security policy for France that would give greater independence than had been provided by the Fourth Republic's close ties with the Americans in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Alliance.
