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PARIS: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned on Saturday that Europe faced what he called an invasion of dangerous ideologies arriving by sea, linking immigration to the legacy of the D-Day landings in remarks in Normandy.
His remarks echo criticisms often made by the administration of President Donald Trump about Europe, a region Washington argues is hampered by weak defences, inability to tackle immigration, needless red tape and “censorship” of far-right and nationalist voices to keep them from power.
“Sadly, today, different European beaches are stormed by different, dangerous ideologies. Beaches in Spain, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria, boats and men arrive,” Hegseth said in a speech at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer.
“When will European capitals do something about that invasion or is it too late? I pray not, and I believe not,” he said.
Hegseth was speaking during commemorations for the 82nd anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy, when US and Allied forces crossed the English Channel to launch the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation.
US officials, including Trump — and Vice President JD Vance as recently as Friday — have often criticised European countries for failing to control immigration.
A US National Security Strategy document issued last year warned Europe faced “civilisational erasure” and must course-correct if it is to remain a reliable US ally.
That document — and other comments by senior Trump officials — have upended postwar assumptions about Europe’s close relationship with its strongest ally, and concentrated minds across European capitals on the urgent need to diversify away from reliance on US technology and defence.
Contribute to defence
Hegseth also called on European countries to do more to contribute to their defence, in a speech at the American military cemetery in Colleville-sur-mer in Normandy.
He was however conspicuously set to skip the main international ceremony marking the anniversary of the landings, which heralded an end to World War II, later in the afternoon.
“May we learn from this past,” Hegseth said in reference to the pivotal involvement of American troops in the Allied landings. “The men buried here fought in a war-fighting alliance where every partner… brought its full measure of industry, courage and sacrifice,” he said in front of the 9,387 white crosses of American soldiers killed in action during the Battle of Normandy.
“Not empty slogans, not lavish summits, not communiques. “Real allies doing real things, taking real losses for a shared cause worth fighting and dying for.”
Peace ‘through strength’
He said that while America “will lead” its “capable allies must be right there with us, shoulder-to-shoulder in the breach when it matters”.
The Trump administration has also accused Europe of not pulling its weight to ensure the continent’s security and has even floated pulling out of Nato.
“Peace is secured only through strength,” he told the audience including French armed forces Minister Catherine Vautrin, without referring explicitly to the US-Israeli war against Iran.
“And it’s strength on both sides of the Atlantic, fortified by readiness, shared military capabilities and an unwavering political will,” he added.
The Normandy landings on June 6, 1944, were the largest amphibious operation in history.
An armada of 6,939 ships and 132,700 British, Canadian, American, Belgian, Norwegian, and Polish troops stormed 80 kilometres of Normandy beaches. The operation contributed decisively to the victory over Nazi Germany, which was also being squeezed by USSR forces to the east.
Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2026
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