European defence took centre stage at France’s Bastille Day parade on Tuesday, as troops and aircraft from across the continent joined the traditional military ceremony in Paris. The display followed an agreement by Ukraine and nine European countries to build an integrated defence system against ballistic missiles, reflecting Europe’s efforts to reduce its military dependence on the United States.
Around 35 heads of state and government, mainly from European countries supporting Ukraine, gathered at the Élysée Palace before watching the parade along the Champs-Élysées.
The event marked the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, which became one of the defining moments of the French Revolution. This year, however, the ceremony was also designed to present European military cooperation as a response to Russia’s war against Ukraine and uncertainty over Washington’s long-term role in the continent’s security.
European defence becomes the theme of the Paris parade
Nearly 6,700 marching personnel, 90 aircraft, 32 helicopters, 299 military and security vehicles and 193 horses were involved in the parade.
Soldiers and aircraft from several countries belonging to the Coalition of the Willing, the group coordinating long-term support and possible security guarantees for Ukraine, participated alongside the French armed forces.
Denmark was represented by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, soldiers from the Royal Life Guards (Den Kongelige Livgarde) and a Danish F-35 fighter aircraft.
Former Danish brigadier general and defence attaché Jakob Henius told DR that European countries did not necessarily interpret the message in the same way.
“From a French perspective, this is about Europe trying to manage entirely on its own. From the perspective of other countries, it is more about showing the Americans that Europe is willing to do more, in the hope that the United States will remain engaged in European security,” he said.
The distinction reflects a long-running debate over European strategic autonomy. France has traditionally argued that Europe should possess the military and industrial capacity to act independently. Several northern and eastern European governments have instead placed greater emphasis on strengthening NATO and preserving the United States’ commitment to the alliance.
A new European missile defence coalition
The parade came one day after Ukraine, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom announced the creation of an integrated anti-ballistic missile coalition.
The participating governments said the initiative was a response to the growing threat from ballistic missiles and the need for stronger defence capabilities across Europe.
The coalition will bring together military expertise, technology and defence industries to develop an integrated system capable of detecting and intercepting missile attacks. Its initial priority will be to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend its cities and critical infrastructure. The project is then expected to contribute to the protection of the wider European continent.
The joint declaration described the initiative as a purely defensive coalition. The new structure is intended to complement existing systems while allowing European and Ukrainian companies to cooperate on radar, interception and command technologies.
No precise timetable has been announced. Frederiksen said she expected practical work to begin during 2026.
Ukraine will be at the centre of the system
Ukraine is expected to play an active role rather than simply receive European equipment. Years of Russian missile attacks have given its armed forces extensive operational experience in detecting and intercepting ballistic threats.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky argued that strengthening air defence could also affect the course of the war.
“The more means Ukraine has to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles, the greater the chance that Putin will sit down at the negotiating table,” he wrote after the agreement was announced.
Frederiksen said ballistic missiles were one of the threats Ukraine could not counter adequately with its current capabilities. She also linked the defence of Ukraine directly to the security of other European countries.
“If Ukraine falls, there is a risk that Europe will fall. Ukraine is not only fighting its own battle. It is fighting for our peace and our freedom,” she said.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said the coalition would strengthen Ukraine’s defence while creating closer European cooperation against future missile threats.
The project remains open to other governments that share its principles and objectives.
Nordic countries join the European defence initiative
Denmark, Norway and Sweden are all founding members of the coalition. Their participation illustrates how the concept of stronger European defence has moved beyond France and the EU’s traditional advocates of strategic autonomy.
For the Nordic countries, the objective is not formally to replace NATO. Denmark, Norway and Sweden continue to regard the transatlantic alliance and the United States as central to their security. Their governments are nevertheless investing more heavily in European production, shared capabilities and regional defence cooperation.
The missile initiative may also create opportunities for Nordic defence companies. Danish radar manufacturer Weibel Scientific attended the Paris talks, and Frederiksen said companies from Denmark could contribute technology to the system.
“We have an increasingly strong defence industry in Denmark. Values cannot defend themselves. Only weapons and technology can do that,” she said.
Several participating countries already operate American Patriot missile systems, while France and Italy have developed the European SAMP/T platform. The coalition is expected to examine how existing systems can be connected while European and Ukrainian industries work on additional technologies.
Europe prepares for a less predictable United States
The new coalition does not amount to a political break with Washington. European governments continue to purchase American weapons and rely on US intelligence, logistics, nuclear deterrence and military infrastructure.
However, Donald Trump’s presidency has renewed doubts over the durability of American support for Ukraine and the conditions under which Washington would defend its European allies.
Frederiksen said cooperation with the United States remained close, but argued that Europe needed to produce more of its own defence equipment.
“It is a problem to depend on others, and it is especially a problem when it takes too long to gain access to what we need,” she said.
France’s use of Bastille Day as a European military display therefore carried two parallel messages. It warned Russia that support for Ukraine remains coordinated, while signalling to the United States that European governments are prepared to assume a larger share of their own defence.
The practical effectiveness of the missile coalition will depend on financing, industrial coordination and the ability to integrate different national systems. Its announcement nevertheless marks another step towards a European security structure designed to function even if future American support becomes more limited.
