Thanks for the correction - must get some drugs - improve memory - Now - what was the name of that stuff that improves...I forget - lol
Well, for all intents and purposes, you are correct. NATO is essentially a security/military alliance. If you do not play a part in that side of things, you are effectively not a part of NATO. The French are damnable in the way they do things though. To them, it means something to only withdraw from one portion of the treaty, even if that is the most relevant portion.
It's kind of like one of the original states only ratifying one article of the Constitution but insisting upon being part of the US. That's the French.