The traditional July 14 military parade went off without a hitch Friday morning in Paris on the Champs-Élysées in the presence of Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, guest of honor on the occasion of the national holiday, despite a tense security environment.
Shortly before noon, the parade ended with the interpretation of “La Marseillaise”.
Previously, the final animation, place de la Concorde, commemorated 1943, year of creation of the French Resistance medal, the creation of the National Council of the Resistance, the death of the hero of the Resistance Jean Moulin and the birth of the moving “Song of the supporters”.
In the preamble to the parade, the French head of state had descended the prestigious avenue des Champs-Élysées in a military vehicle in front of a compact crowd, garnering applause, but also a few boos.
After a passage of the nine Alphajets of the Patrouille de France, which colored the Parisian sky with blue white red, the parade on foot was opened by 240 members of the Indian armed forces, some wearing turbans.
A critical visit
Paris and New Delhi are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their strategic partnership this year, which France aims to strengthen in order to weigh in the Asia-Pacific zone, although India is accused by NGOs of authoritarian drift.
French environmentalists have criticized this visit. Since Mr. Modi’s party came to power in 2014, India “has continued to regress in its fight against poverty, against inequality, as well as in terms of human rights and fundamental freedoms” , they denounced in a press release.
The presence in Paris of Mr. Modi will be an opportunity to discuss the terms of purchase of 26 new Dassault Aviation Rafales in Navy version for the Indian aircraft carrier, as well as three submarines, an acquisition to which New Delhi gave its approval in principle on Thursday.
The two countries also unveiled several cooperation agreements in the space field, including the establishment of a joint satellite maritime surveillance system and the start of construction of the Franco-Indian thermal infrared satellite TRISHNA.
MM. Macron and Modi will make a joint statement ahead of an interview at the Élysée Palace scheduled for 5:05 p.m., and an official dinner at the Louvre Museum. The Indian Prime Minister was awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor, the highest French distinction.
under high security
The July 14 festivities are held under high security surveillance. At the end of June, the death of a teenager, killed by a policeman during a roadside check, led to several nights of riots and considerable damage.
The government has deployed major means to try to contain the traditional incidents of the July 14 festivities, mobilizing from Thursday evening to Saturday evening some 45,000 police and gendarmes, elite units and armored vehicles. In Paris, around 10,000 members of the police were hard at work.
The night from Thursday to Friday was however “relatively calm overall for July 13”, assured the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin.
In total, the 2023 edition of the parade brought together 6,500 participants, including 5,100 on foot. More than 60 planes, including foreign aircraft, 28 helicopters, 157 vehicles and 62 motorcycles will parade in the company of the 200 horses of the Republican Guard on the Champs-Élysées.
Another highlight: six partner African military high schools (Benin, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Madagascar, Ivory Coast, Senegal) paraded with residents of French military schools.
To embody French military aid to Ukraine, Caesar guns and AMX10-RC armored vehicles, of the type sold in kyiv, paraded in front of the Parisians.
This demonstration was also intended to embody the increase in the budget of the armies, while Parliament definitively adopted on Thursday a new Military Programming Law (LPM) of an envelope of 413 billion euros by 2030, i.e. a 40% increase compared to the previous LPM.
This LPM “is the one our armies need”, welcomed Emmanuel Macron on Thursday.
France’s “moral forces” were the theme of the parade. The operational reserve has been honoured, the number of which will more than double by 2030 to reach 80,000 volunteers.