France 'to rejoin Nato'

France will rejoin Nato’s military command, President Nicolas Sarkozy’s top adviser confirmed today.

Elysee Palace secretary-general Claude Gueant also said France has “serious hope” of selling about 100 Rafale fighter jets – after 23 years of failing to sell even one.

Mr Gueant said France will be in the “command organisations” of Nato in the future but did not specify when.

Mr Sarkozy has stopped short of such a commitment until now, saying only that nothing prevents the country rejoining the transatlantic alliance’s military structures.

France has been in talks with countries including the United Arab Emirates, Brazil and Libya about selling the high-tech Rafale, built by French Dassault Aviation.