14 th July military parade opens with the flags of nine countries from NATO’s eastern flank : Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria.
14 th July military parade opens with the flags of nine countries from NATO’s eastern flank : Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria.
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>The flag bearers of nine European countries, most of them neighbors of Russia or Ukraine, will participate in the military parade on the Champs-Élysées this Thursday
>The return of war to the gates of Europe gives a particular relief to the traditional military parade planned this Thursday in Paris on the occasion of the national holiday of July 14, which will honor the countries of the eastern flank of NATO and the French troops deployed there.
>Emmanuel Macron will preside in the morning over the parade on the prestigious avenue of the Champs Élysées before giving at 1:10 p.m. on France 2 and TF1 his first television interview since his re-election as head of state in April, in a complex domestic political context after the setback of his coalition in the legislative elections in June that deprived him of an absolute majority in the National Assembly.
>”Sharing the flame” is the theme of the 2022 parade. A triple reference to the army-nation link, to the flame of the Resistance embodied by Hubert Germain, the last companion of the Liberation who died last year, and to the Olympic flame of which France is now custodian until the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. Olympic and Paralympic medalists will be part of the procession.
>In total, some 6,300 people will march this year, including nearly 5,000 on foot. The show will mobilize 64 aircraft, a drone, 25 helicopters, 200 horses and 181 motorized vehicles.
Nine countries invited
>The parade on foot will be opened by the flags of 9 invited foreign countries, most of them neighbors of Russia or Ukraine: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria. French troops recently deployed on the eastern flank of Europe will follow them.
>Paris has clearly reinforced its reassurance missions there since the beginning of the war. Some 500 French troops were rushed to Romania at the end of February as part of NATO, and Paris stands ready to increase its contingent if necessary. France is also participating in ground and air reassurance missions in Estonia and its Rafale fighter jets are helping to protect Polish skies.
>Given the war in Ukraine but also inflation, President Emmanuel Macron announced a “re-evaluation” of the military programming law (LPM) 2019-2025 to “adjust the means to the threats.” In 2017, the head of state initiated a clear upward shift in defense appropriations after years of dearth. The Armed Forces budget will grow again in 2022 before taking a step of 3 billion in 2023, to reach 44 billion euros.
>But the high-intensity conflict in Ukraine has highlighted the shortcomings of the French defense apparatus, particularly in terms of ammunition.
>Yellow vests
>Some 125,000 law enforcement officers have been mobilized throughout France to ensure the smooth running of the national holiday, which will be the occasion for the “Yellow Vests” to demonstrate in the capital in the afternoon. Fireworks will then illuminate in the evening the sky of France, hit by a strong heat wave, with a large part of the territory threatened by fires.
>Among the marchers will be the 14 units of the marine troops, which are celebrating their 400th anniversary. Operators from the Special Operations Command (COS), which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, will also be present. And for the first time in their history, the gendarmerie’s cyber-investigators will participate in the parade.
>The 2022 edition will be an opportunity to showcase the French armies’ new equipment, such as the Jaguar reconnaissance armored vehicle, alongside the new generation Griffon armored vehicle, which is gradually replacing the armored front vehicle (VAB) in the land forces. The old Alouette light helicopter and the Mirage 2000C air defense aircraft will also be on display.
>The flypast, in which several European aircraft will participate, will include for the first time the Reaper drone, used in the Sahel to track down jihadists. The show will end with a song specially composed for the occasion, entitled “France”, performed by the artist Candice Parise.