France marked Bastille Day with a full-scale military parade on the Champs-Élysées, returning to its traditional route after last year's Olympic disruption. About 7,000 members of the armed forces, police, gendarmerie and firefighters marched or rode in 247 vehicles and 200 horses, while 65 aircraft and 34 helicopters—led by the Patrouille de France—crossed the Paris sky. The display was designed to underline the “operational credibility” of the French Army by showing combat-ready units rather than ceremonial formations. Indonesia was the honorary guest, with President Prabowo Subianto watching from the presidential tribune as roughly 450 Indonesian soldiers, including a 200-member drumband, opened the procession. Their participation comes as Jakarta negotiates additional purchases of Rafale fighters, Scorpène submarines and Caesar howitzers from France, broadening the countries’ Indo-Pacific defence partnership. On the eve of the parade, President Emmanuel Macron pledged to add €3.5 billion to defence spending in 2026 and a further €3 billion in 2027, lifting the military budget to about €64 billion—nearly double the level of a decade earlier. Macron said the boost is needed “in a more brutal world,” citing threats ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine to cyberattacks. Security was tight: police reported 176 arrests in the Paris region overnight for disturbances and use of fireworks mortars. Celebrations continued nationwide with a drone light show over the Eiffel Tower and the customary fireworks in almost every French town, rounding off the republic’s most symbolic holiday.