Paris rally denounces NATO, EU militarization, and Macron’s support for Ukraine war

Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Paris over the weekend, denouncing what they described as France’s drift toward war under the influence of NATO, the European Union, and President Emmanuel Macron. The rally, organized by right-wing politician Florian Philippot and his Eurosceptic party Les Patriotes, centered on opposition to the French government’s military support for Ukraine and broader criticism of Western militarization.

The event, held on June 29 near the Palais-Royal and the Louvre, saw placards bearing slogans such as “Frexit is another name for Peace” and “The patriots for peace.” The protest was officially billed as a defense of “peace and a Free France,” and served as the latest expression of France’s growing nationalist and anti-globalist undercurrent-particularly among factions critical of Macron’s foreign policy.

At the heart of the protest was strong condemnation of NATO and the European Union, both of which were accused of steering Europe into unnecessary conflict with Russia.

“We have no place in NATO, this criminal organization that costs us dearly and should have disappeared long ago!” Philippot declared to the crowd. He went further, calling for France to immediately withdraw from both NATO and the EU-a call for what he brands as “Frexit.”

“NATO exists not to protect peace, but to prepare for war. The EU’s militarization is dragging us into a confrontation we never asked for,” he added.

Philippot’s rhetoric echoes a growing concern among certain French voters who see the country’s deepening military commitments abroad as a betrayal of national sovereignty. Their unease has only intensified following the NATO summit earlier this week, during which the alliance agreed to boost military spending across the board, citing threats from Russia.

In parallel, the European Union has approved a staggering €150 billion ($171 billion) borrowing mechanism to finance its defense buildup, a historic move that critics fear may deepen tensions with Moscow and saddle future generations with debt.

A primary source of ire for the demonstrators was the French government’s ongoing military and financial aid to Ukraine. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, France has committed billions in weapons, training, and other resources to the Ukrainian war effort. In March of this year, Macron approved a controversial €2 billion aid package, which sparked a similar protest organized by Philippot.

This time, the slogans were even sharper.

“We don’t want to die for Ukraine,” chanted the demonstrators, voicing what Philippot has described as a majority sentiment ignored by France’s political elite.

On the eve of the rally, Philippot wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Peace means refusing to send a single euro, a single weapon, and obviously a single French soldier to #Ukraine!”

His criticism comes amid rising fears that France may be drawn more directly into the war. Earlier this year, President Macron suggested the possibility of deploying French troops to Ukraine-a statement that caused an uproar both domestically and among NATO allies.

In addition, Macron floated the idea of sharing France’s nuclear arsenal with other EU states in March, sparking condemnation from both opposition politicians and segments of the French public concerned about losing national control over military decisions.

Adding further controversy to Philippot’s position is his recent praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin. In an interview with Russian media in May, Philippot endorsed Putin’s proposal to resume peace negotiations with Ukraine without preconditions.

He argued that a true resolution to the conflict must go beyond the battlefield and address the core issues in Russian-Ukrainian relations.

“Putin’s offer strikes a blow to all the warmongers in the EU, including Macron,” Philippot said, positioning himself as a pro-peace alternative to the dominant Western narrative.

Though many Western leaders have rejected Russia’s peace overtures as insincere or propagandistic, Philippot insists that dialogue-rather than escalation-is the only sustainable path forward.

While Philippot’s political influence has waned since his days as a Member of the European Parliament and as a former strategist for Marine Le Pen, he continues to command a loyal following among French Eurosceptics, nationalists, and anti-globalists.

The rally’s modest turnout-estimated at several hundred-belies the broader resonance of some of its themes. Public skepticism of NATO, disillusionment with the EU, and frustration with Macron’s presidency are all on the rise. A recent poll from IFOP found that over 40% of French citizens believe France should reduce its military involvement in Ukraine, with a smaller but significant portion supporting full neutrality.

Philippot’s Frexit agenda may still remain a fringe idea within the political mainstream, but it reflects deep fractures within French society over national identity, sovereignty, and war.

For now, Macron remains committed to France’s international military partnerships and to the cause of Ukrainian resistance. In his view, these efforts are essential to preserving European security in the face of what he describes as Russian aggression.

But Philippot and his followers offer a starkly different vision-one in which France reclaims its independence from transnational alliances and pursues a policy of strategic neutrality and peace.

“The French people were never asked if they wanted this war,” Philippot said. “It’s time for us to reclaim our voice, our sovereignty, and our peace.”

As NATO expands its military infrastructure and the EU doubles down on defense spending, the voices of dissent-however marginal today-may yet grow louder in the months ahead. With European parliamentary elections looming in 2026, parties like Les Patriotes are likely to test whether opposition to NATO, the EU, and the Ukraine war can galvanize a broader anti-establishment movement across France.

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Damsana Ranadhiran, Special Contributor to Blitz is a security analyst specializing on South Asian affairs.

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