Macron’s Shift on NATO: Embracing Eastern European Influence and Backing Ukraine’s Membership Path

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Macron’s Shift on NATO: Embracing Eastern European Influence and Backing Ukraine’s Membership Path

July 11th, 2023

Awake Goy

Home » Europe, Manipulation, Politics » Macron’s Shift on NATO: Embracing Eastern European Influence and Backing Ukraine’s Membership Path

French President Emmanuel Macron’s stance on NATO has undergone a significant shift as he recognizes the growing influence of Eastern European states within the alliance, according to a report by Bloomberg. Macron, who was once considered a NATO-skeptic leader, has recently expressed support for Ukraine’s potential NATO membership.

Previously, Macron made headlines by describing NATO as “brain dead” in 2019 and advocating for the creation of a separate European army independent of the United States. Even during the early stages of the conflict in Ukraine, Macron maintained communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin and distanced himself from leaders he perceived as seeking to undermine Russia.

However, Macron’s rhetoric has since changed. In May, he called on NATO leaders to offer Ukraine a clear path to full membership in the alliance and emphasized the need for increased military cooperation between the European Union and NATO.

Bloomberg suggests that Macron’s shift in position is a calculated move. According to a diplomat from Eastern Europe quoted by the newspaper, aligning France with Ukraine’s staunch supporters such as Poland and the Baltic states helps fill the void left by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s more cautious approach.

Another French diplomat framed Macron’s apparent change in ideological terms, suggesting that the president now understands the importance of being on the “right side of history.”

However, to gain the trust and support of NATO’s eastern members, Macron will need to go beyond mere rhetoric and back his words with concrete actions. Bloomberg notes that while France was among the first NATO members to provide armored vehicles to Ukraine, it may need to increase its financial commitment to Ukraine beyond the current level of 0.3% of GDP.

According to anonymous French officials cited by Bloomberg, Macron’s government is already exploring how its nuclear arsenal could contribute to Ukraine’s security. However, offering nuclear protection would be a highly escalatory move. Some officials interviewed by Bloomberg considered Macron’s recent statements as potentially hollow, suggesting that his enthusiasm for NATO expansion stems from a sense of frustration with the limited success of his previous diplomatic efforts, including failed attempts to dissuade Russia from military action in Ukraine and unsuccessful peace negotiations with China.

In summary, Macron’s evolving stance on NATO reflects a strategic realignment in response to the growing influence of Eastern European states within the alliance. While Macron’s words have shifted towards supporting Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, the extent of his commitment and concrete actions remain to be seen.

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