Cyprus National Guard participates in the Bastille Day parade in Paris

On July 14, 2026, a 23-member detachment of the Cypriot National Guard participated in the Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. This marked the second time a Cypriot unit has joined the parade, following an initial appearance in 2007. The event was attended by Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and French President Emmanuel Macron. During his visit, President Christodoulides held a brief discussion with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan regarding the Cyprus issue and EU-Turkey relations. Separately, National Guard Chief Lieutenant General Emmanouel Theodorou met with French Chief of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Fabien Mandon to discuss Mediterranean security and defense cooperation. Additionally, President Christodoulides discussed Cyprus's technical readiness for full integration into the Schengen Area with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The joint military presence of Greece and Cyprus in the parade underscored their strategic partnerships with France amid regional security challenges.