On July 14th, France celebrated its National Day with grand festivities, including the annual military parade along the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The parade, which showcased the French military’s strength and reliability, was unprecedented in scale. Later in the evening, a magnificent fireworks display and drone show took place at the Place de la Concorde in front of the Eiffel Tower, attracting nearly 300,000 spectators.
According to the French presidency, approximately 7,000 military personnel participated in the parade, with around 5,600 marching on foot and an impressive display of military vehicles, aircraft, and 200 Republican Guard horses. This year’s parade marked a return to the Champs-Élysées after being relocated to the Fu Xu Avenue in 2024 due to the Paris Olympics.
As customary, the renowned “Patrouille de France” aerial display team opened the parade with a flyover above the Champs-Élysées. French President Emmanuel Macron was in attendance and reviewed the troops from all branches of the military.
A highlight of the parade was the display of the cutting-edge 7th Armored Brigade of the French Army, comprised of infantry, armored units, and support forces. The French military demonstrated their capability to rapidly deploy over 7,000 soldiers with full ammunition and logistical support within 10 days. By 2027, they aspire to deploy a division-level force exceeding 20,000 personnel within 30 days.
Indonesia, the guest of honor this year, added an international flair to the parade with over 450 Indonesian soldiers participating. A unique drum band from Indonesia, donning colorful uniforms and helmets representing various military branches such as tiger, eagle, sea lion, and shark, showcased their talents on the Champs-Élysées, capturing attention.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto attended the parade alongside President Macron, emphasizing the strengthening strategic partnership between France and Indonesia. It is worth noting that Indonesia is one of the key buyers of the French “Rafale” fighter jets.
Furthermore, contingents from Finland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and other countries also participated in the parade, adding diversity and unity to the event. The international presence highlighted the spirit of cooperation and camaraderie among nations on France’s National Day celebration.