(VOVWORLD) - Fighter jets streaked over Paris on Saturday as part of a massive military parade in a demonstration of controlled force on France’s National Day, due to be followed by a street party if it wins the World Cup.
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 France celebrates Bastille Day with major military parade (Photo: Ludovic Marin/ AFP)
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Thousands of people, many of them tourists, gathered at the Champs Elysees Avenue to watch the march involving 4,290 soldiers, 220 vehicles, 250 horses, 64 jets, and 30 helicopters.
This year’s Bastille Day, themed “fraternity in arms”, featured Spanish gendarmes, Belgian armored vehicles, and an Airbus A400M military transport plane from the German defense fleet.
French President Emmanuel Macron flagged off the spectacle and was joined by 2 guest of honor: Singapore Prime Minister Hsien Loong and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono.
France has deployed 110,000 police and security forces nationwide to secure the huge street parties if its national team wins the World Cup on Sunday. French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said that everything is being done so the French can live these festive moments with peace of mind, despite the terrorist threat which remains at a high level.
The World Cup final between France and Croatia will be shown on a giant screen in the shadow of the Eiffel tower. A secured fan zone for 90,000 people will be set up for the broadcast. The Eiffel Tower will be closed to visitors for the occasion.