European troops and warplanes joined France's Bastille Day parade on Tuesday, a military display intended to underscore European solidarity and support for Ukraine. Ukrainian troops and co-pilots trained in France also participated in the event along the Champs-Élysées.
French President Emmanuel Macron, hosting approximately 30 other heads of state or government, described the presence of allied forces as a "great honor" and a symbol of "strategic reawakening and our unity." The parade commenced with roughly 500 soldiers from the "coalition of the willing," a group of nations committed to aiding Ukraine's post-war security. Aircraft from Germany, the United Kingdom, Croatia, Poland, Denmark, Greece, Sweden, Norway, Spain, and Italy were featured in the aerial display.
This year's parade set a record with 6,800 troops participating, an increase from previous years. The event traditionally commemorates the storming of the Bastille fortress in 1789, a pivotal moment in the French Revolution.
However, the national holiday is being observed under challenging conditions. Raging forest fires, particularly in the Fontainebleau forest south of Paris and in southern France, are compounding the impact of the nation's third heatwave of the year. As a result, authorities in several regions, including Paris, have banned the customary fireworks displays and firefighters' balls that are part of the Bastille Day celebrations. The Eiffel Tower's drone light show, held Monday night, proceeded as planned.
The parade's route along the Champs-Élysées and beneath the Arc de Triomphe is a central feature of the day, with presidents using the occasion to highlight national pride and accomplishments. The scale of the Paris parade has previously inspired similar events in other countries, including the United States.