Macron's Message: "Peace is Our Goal" but Ready to Fight
In his traditional pre-parade speech to the armed forces, President Macron emphasized that while peace remains France's goal, the nation stands ready to defend its values "at the cost of blood if necessary" . The speech, delivered on the eve of the parade, set the tone for the historic display.
Key Quotes:
"The message we send to the world is this: Yes, peace is our goal"
"Yes, we cherish freedom and the rule of law. And yes, we stand ready to fight to defend them. Always, and at the cost of blood if necessary"
The remarks reflected the gravity of Europe's security situation and Macron's final address to the armed forces as president .