Croatia sends elite police unit to France's Bastille Day Parade after military dispute

Croatia has sent its elite Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit to France's Bastille Day parade after President Zoran Milanović barred Croatian soldiers from taking part in the event on July 14.

Following a week-long dispute, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković's government found a way for Croatia to participate despite the president's objection by sending the special police unit instead of a military contingent.

Interior Minister Davor Božinović said on Monday that members of the unit had begun preparing for the parade.

According to HRT, members of the Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit arrived in Paris on Sunday and are taking part in preparations for the parade, which will be held in eight days on the Champs-Élysées.

The Lučko unit operates within the Ministry of the Interior and played a key role in Croatia's Homeland War. It is regarded as one of the country's most important symbols of defence and security.

"I have already said publicly that I believe the army should have been there. Croatian soldiers certainly wanted to participate because it would have increased the visibility of our military. The Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit is a unique formation and the only wartime unit that remains active within the Ministry of the Interior," Božinović said.

France is staging this year's Bastille Day military parade under the theme of European unity and support for Ukraine. President Milanović opposed Croatian military participation, arguing that the event was being used to promote the Coalition of the Willing, an initiative backing Ukraine.