France's conservative government will face a no-confidence vote in parliament later this month over contested plans to return France to NATO's military command, the prime minister said Thursday.

In a letter to leaders of the leftist opposition in both houses of parliament, Francois Fillon offered to submit his government to a confidence motion after a legislative debate over France's relations with NATO on March 17.

President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to return France to NATO's military command, a decision-making body within the U.S.-dominated alliance that then-President Charles de Gaulle quit in 1966.

Many leftist lawmakers and some in Sarkozy's conservative ruling party oppose the idea, saying it could threaten France's diplomatic and military independence.

The party, the UMP, has a substantial majority in both houses of parliament.

Fillon argued in his letter that the move would boost France's and Europe's global influence, and said it is part "of a global policy aimed at reinforcing our security."

"Our full participation in the military structure of NATO is not an end unto itself, but a means among others to make our nation's interests and goals prevail on the international stage," he wrote.

Sarkozy says the end of the Cold War and threats such as terrorism and piracy have revived the need for international security cooperation. He wants to bring France back into the full NATO fold sometime before France and Germany host a 60th anniversary summit for the alliance in April.

