France will stage its largest-ever Bastille Day parade on July 14, a farewell show for President Emmanuel Macron. The event on the Champs-Élysées is expected to feature 8,500 military personnel, 95 aircraft, 35 helicopters and 200 horses of the Republican Guard.
A total of 6,500 soldiers will march on foot, while dozens of armored vehicles and special military equipment will roll down the avenue. The parade will be the last of Macron’s presidency, and the Élysée Palace has prepared an especially grand program.
According to General Loïc Mizon, military governor of Paris, this year’s parade will be the biggest in modern history. Invitations have been extended to leaders of 37 nations that form the so-called coalition of the willing supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression.
Ukrainian jets escort French aerobatic team
One of the highlights will be the flyover of the Patrouille de France — the elite aerobatic squadron flying Alpha Jet aircraft. For the first time, they will be escorted by two Ukrainian Mirage 2000B fighter jets, signifying solidarity with Kyiv.
Planners have also scheduled an in-flight refueling demonstration involving two Caracal helicopters and an A400M tanker aircraft. Unconfirmed reports suggest that additional combat aircraft from allied nations, including possibly Poland, may also take part.
Global leaders gather in Paris
The parade will serve as a political as well as a military statement. Heads of state from 37 countries actively backing Ukraine will attend, along with NATO commanders and European Commission representatives. The guest list underlines Macron’s foreign policy legacy, centered on European defense autonomy and unwavering support for Ukraine.
The French government has framed the event as both a celebration of national pride and a display of the country’s commitment to European security. Organizers expect hundreds of thousands of spectators to line the Champs-Élysées.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Falcon Photography / wikimedia commons / CC 3.0 BY
