Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović attended France’s Bastille Day military parade in Paris at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, joining European leaders and allied partners for one of France’s most important national celebrations.
A highlight of this year’s ceremony was the first-ever participation of members of the Montenegrin Armed Forces in the traditional military parade along the Champs-Élysées, where they carried Montenegro’s national flag alongside troops from other allied countries.
Milatović described the occasion as a significant honour for both the armed forces and the country, saying it demonstrated Montenegro’s commitment to the shared values of freedom, democracy and peace. He added that the participation represented another confirmation of Montenegro’s place within the European community of nations.
Held annually on 14 July, Bastille Day commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, a defining event of the French Revolution and a symbol of liberty and the birth of modern France. The military parade on the Champs-Élysées is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious national ceremonies, regularly attended by heads of state and international partners. Montenegro’s participation reflects its close ties with France, its NATO membership and its continued ambition to become the next member of the European Union.
