Why Did France Leave NATO at the Height of the Cold War?

A forgotten mini Cold War within the NATO

French President Charles de Gaulle (left) and American President John F.Kennedy in Paris, 1961. Image source: Wikimedia Commons.

France and NATO have had a fascinating, and often tense relationship. Although France was a founding member of NATO in 1949, it has not always played nice. In fact, one of the most interesting scandals that rocked NATO and also rattled the Kremlin’s cage happened in 1966.