The French parliament approved Tuesday France's full return to NATO's military command in a vote of confidence.

The vote is considered symbolic as the NATO plan, announced by President Nicolas Sarkozy last week, does not require parliamentary ratification.

Critics say that France might lose its ability to counteract the United States and forge independent diplomatic policies after its return to NATO.

Former President Charles de Gaulle pulled France out of NATO's military command in 1966, citing undermined sovereignty within the alliance.

(Xinhua News Agency March 18, 2009)