Greek Troops and Rafales March in Paris for Bastille Day
Greek armed forces marched down the Champs-Élysées in Paris today as part of France's Bastille Day celebrations, 107 years after a Greek military unit first paraded past the Arc de Triomphe to mark the Allied victory in World War I.
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced the participation on social media, noting that an inter-service honor guard unit from the Hellenic National Defense General Staff marched on foot while two Greek Air Force Rafale jets flew over the French capital.
Greek troops marched down the Champs-Élysées 107 years after a Greek unit first paraded past the Arc de Triomphe.
Dendias described the presence as a symbol of Greece's enduring contribution to European security and the protection of democratic values and human rights. He also pointed to the strong bilateral bonds between Greece and France, a partnership that has deepened considerably since Athens signed a major defense cooperation agreement with Paris in 2021.
The two countries have grown closer militarily in recent years, with Greece operating French-built Rafale fighters as a cornerstone of its air defense modernization. The appearance of Greek jets over Paris today carries particular weight given ongoing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, where France and Greece share overlapping strategic interests.
