French President is going to demonstrate the military power of France and its allies during the parade dedicated to July 14, Bastille Day. The world leader will join Emmanuel Macron on Sunday celebrations in the capital of France.
President Macron will seek to showcase Europe’s defence power amid rising tensions with the United States. The European military cooperation at the heart of a Bastille Day parade will be the best option for Macron to prove French military abilities.
Around July 14th, the French government does its best to make Bastille Day celebrations as the real national day. While last year, Donald Trump and his wife Melania were the guests of the Bastille Day parade, this July, it looks impossible due to tensions between Washington and Paris.
The US pullout from the Paris climate accord and Iran nuclear deal, as well as France’s new law for a tax on digital giants, made the presence of the first American couple on the French National Day impossible.
Bastille Day: the world leaders come to congratulate Emmanuel Macron
The leaders of the EU like German Chancellor and British Prime Minister are expected to join President Macron to watch the annual parade down the Champs Elysees. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also will attend on parade in a sign of the continued importance of Alliance.
The French leader, who pushed the idea of the European Intervention Initiative (E2I) to undertake missions outside of existing structures like NATO, said that European defence cooperation was crucial.
“Never, since the end of World War II, has Europe been so important,” Macron said in a statement ahead of the Bastille Day parade.
In his speech, Mr Macron added that for France the construction of a Europe of defence is the priority. On Sunday, forces from all nine countries taking part alongside France in the E2I will be represented at the parade.
Also present will be members of the 5,000-strong Franco-German Brigade (BFA), which was created in 1989 as a symbol of postwar unity between France and Germany, and celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
