According to Bloomberg, French President Emmanuel Macron has adjusted his stance on NATO in an effort to garner support from Eastern European countries within the alliance. Macron's recent endorsement of a "path" to NATO membership for Ukraine reflects his recognition of the growing influence of Eastern European states within NATO.

Previously, Macron had been seen as one of Europe's most skeptical leaders regarding NATO. In 2019, he famously described the bloc as "brain dead" and consistently advocated for the establishment of an independent "true European army" separate from the United States. Even during the early stages of the Ukraine conflict, Macron maintained communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin and distanced himself from "Anglo Saxon" leaders, accusing them of seeking to "annihilate" Russia.

However, Macron's rhetoric has undergone a significant shift. In May, he called on NATO leaders to offer Ukraine a potential path to full membership in the alliance and emphasized the need for swift military cooperation between the European Union and NATO.

Bloomberg reports that this change in Macron's position is a calculated move. The newspaper cites a diplomat from Eastern Europe who explains that by aligning France with staunch supporters of Ukraine like Poland and the Baltic states, Macron aims to fill the gap left by the more cautious approach of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Another French diplomat portrayed Macron's transformation in more ideological terms, suggesting that the president has recognized the importance of being on the "right side of history."

However, Bloomberg highlights that Macron will need to back his words with concrete actions to convince NATO's Eastern European members. While France has already provided Ukraine with armored vehicles, increasing its support beyond the current level of 0.3% of GDP will likely be necessary. The newspaper also suggests that Macron's government is exploring how France's nuclear arsenal could contribute to Ukraine's security guarantees.

While offering nuclear protection to Ukraine would be a highly escalatory step, some anonymous officials mentioned by Bloomberg consider Macron's recent statements as mere "hot air." With his previous attempts to dissuade Putin from deploying troops to Ukraine proving unsuccessful and his offer to assist China in negotiating a peace deal languishing, Macron is reportedly embracing NATO expansion out of a sense that his other approaches have not yielded results.