The event will start with a presentation of the national flags of Poland, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia, and will feature troops from these nine eastern NATO allies, news outlets reported.
Soldiers from France’s NATO contingent posted in Eastern Europe will also join the parade, according to officials.
By inviting NATO’s eastern-flank countries to its landmark parade, France seeks to demonstrate European unity in the face of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
Poland’s ambassador to France, Jan Emeryk Rościszewski, said: “We are very pleased. Poland is being recognised as an important country in the new geopolitical situation of today.”
He added: “Hopefully, the presence of Polish soldiers will serve as a clear sign and symbol that Poland is an important country and that today, Europe’s key affairs are centring around Poland.”
The Bastille Day celebrations will be led by President Emmanuel Macron, culminating in a symphonic concert and a fireworks display near the Eiffel Tower in the evening, the IAR news agency reported.
Thursday is day 141 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, rfi.fr/en