France marked its national holiday with a grand Bastille Day parade in Paris, featuring impressive warplanes and military displays. With more than 100,000 police deployed across the country, security measures were intensified to prevent any potential unrest in underprivileged neighborhoods.
This year’s celebrations took place in the aftermath of the nation’s most serious riots in nearly two decades, which were triggered by the fatal police shooting of a teenager with North African roots. The incident exposed deep-seated anger over inequality and racial discrimination in France.
As part of the festivities, fighter jets and military helicopters flew over the site where the teenager was killed, paying tribute to the location in the Paris suburb of Nanterre. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the guest of honor, joined French President Emmanuel Macron to observe the Bastille Day parade. The event featured around 240 Indian troops leading the march down the Champs-Elysees, accompanied by French forces and Indian warplanes.
France often highlights international partnerships during Bastille Day celebrations, and India’s inclusion reflects France’s aim to strengthen collaboration in areas such as climate change, military sales, and countering China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region. However, the event did not address concerns raised by European lawmakers and rights groups regarding human rights issues.
The parade also made symbolic references to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with France showcasing anti-missile batteries provided to Ukraine and inviting Ukrainian officials to the VIP seats. In a separate tribute, a posthumous Legion of Honor award was presented to a French journalist killed in Ukraine earlier in the year.
The Bastille Day parade included thousands of participants, including marching personnel, aircraft, ground vehicles, horses, and dogs. While the celebrations commemorate the start of the French Revolution and promote ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity, many residents of marginalized neighborhoods, particularly those with ties to former French colonies, feel that these values are not upheld. Issues of limited opportunities and everyday racism persist, as exemplified by the unrest following the teenager’s killing.
Due to the historical trend of increased unrest during Bastille Day and the current climate of heightened tension in France, an exceptional 130,000 police officers were deployed during the event. Fireworks were banned in several towns, including Nanterre, due to their previous misuse in targeting law enforcement. Overnight, there were reports of arrests and incidents of urban violence, although the numbers were slightly lower compared to the previous year.
