France greets Friday His National Day is July 14 Military parade of various army units amid tight security. This year, India is participating as the guest of honor in the traditional military parade.
On Friday morning, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend a military parade on the Champs-Elysées with French President Emmanuel Macron as the guest of honour.
Paris and New Delhi celebrate the 25th anniversary of their strategic partnership this year, which France wants to strengthen as a weight in the Asia-Pacific region, even as India faces accusations from non-governmental organizations that it has embraced authoritarianism.
Napoleon Bonaparte created the Legion of Honor in 1802, which included five ranks from Knight to Grand Cross.
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Security reinforcements
The celebrations take place amid tight security. In late June, the killing of a boy by a policeman during a traffic stop led to several nights of rioting and extensive damage.
The government sent reinforcements in an effort to control the traditional events during the celebrations, as some 45,000 police, gendarmes, elite units and armored vehicles were mobilized from Thursday evening to Saturday evening.
In Paris, around ten thousand police and guards will be stationed in the capital and surrounding districts.
This year’s festivities saw 6,500 participants, including 5,100 on foot. More than 60 aircraft, including 200 horses from the Republican Guard, foreign aircraft, 28 helicopters, 157 vehicles and 62 motorcycles take part in the Champs-Élysées parade.
The French president announced Thursday evening that in 2024, the year of the Summer Olympics in France, the parade will be exceptional.
India..Guest of Honor on France National Day
The parade will be inaugurated by 240 members of the Indian Armed Forces and the air show will include three Indian Rafale aircraft, the Elysee Palace announced.
“Strategic Unity”
As the war turns to Europe from the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, one of the aims of the march is to “remind France of its adherence” to strategic solidarity with its allies, said General Christophe, the military governor of Paris. Abad said.
The 12 countries that helped France during its decade-long military presence in the Sahel will be highlighted: Canada and the Europeans.
Six partner African military colleges (Benin, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Madagascar, Côte d’Azur and Senegal) will participate in the parade with soldiers from French military institutions.
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Caesar guns and AMX10-RC armored vehicles, of the type delivered to Kiev, will be on display to enable French military assistance to Ukraine.
On the other hand, it aims to increase the budget of the military, while the parliament on Thursday approved a new law for military programming worth 413 billion euros by 2030, an increase of 40% compared to the previous programming.
Macron said on Thursday the law was “necessary for our forces”.
On Friday, the light armored vehicle Serval will be displayed for the first time, as well as the new “H160” helicopter manufactured by Airbus Helicopters.
Comprehensive security arrangement
The theme of the parade is “Moral Forces” of France. The operational reserve, which will double to 80,000 volunteers by 2030, will be honoured.
A party will be held at the Place de la Concorde with youth, reservists and members of the National Extended Service and Civil Service, celebrating the spirit of resistance by commemorating 1943, the year the French Resistance was created. The National Council of Resistance and the death of resistance hero Jean Maule.
In the evening fireworks from the Eiffel Tower in the capital are held as usual. A symphony concert will also be held in Champs-de-Mars Park, performed by the French National Orchestra, and centered on the theme of brotherhood.
France 24/AFP
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