France Demonstrates Strength: The July 14 Military Parade as a Reflection of New Security Realities

When the military parade proceeds down the Champs-Elysees on July 14, France is not merely celebrating its national holiday. The ceremony is also a demonstration of the state's capacity to act, military readiness and republican tradition. This year, in light of the war in Ukraine, ongoing crises in the Middle East and an increasingly tense international security situation, the event takes on an additional political dimension. With around 6,800 participants, more than 300 military vehicles and over 100 aircraft, the parade is once again among Europe's largest military ceremonies. One ...