US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth used a D-Day commemoration ceremony in Normandy to deliver a stark warning about Europe’s future, claiming the continent is facing “an invasion of dangerous ideologies”. Speaking at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer during events marking the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings, Mr Hegseth drew parallels between the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France in 1944 and the challenges he believes Europe faces today.
The US defence secretary addressed crowds gathered to honour the 160,000 Allied troops who crossed the English Channel on June 6, 1944, launching the campaign to liberate western Europe from Nazi occupation. During his speech, Mr Hegseth said: “Sadly, today, different European beaches are stormed by different, dangerous ideologies. Beaches in Spain, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria, boats and men arrive. When will European capitals do something about that invasion or is it too late? I pray not, and I believe not.” Although Mr Hegseth did not specifically mention immigration, his comments reflect wider criticism levelled at Europe by the Trump administration.
Washington has argued that European nations are being held back by weak defences, a failure to deal with immigration, excessive regulation and what it describes as the “censorship” of far-right and nationalist political movements.
A US National Security Strategy document published last year also warned that Europe risked “civilisational erasure” unless it changed course, claiming such action was necessary for the continent to remain a dependable ally of the United States.
Mr Hegseth’s remarks came just a day after US Vice President JD Vance linked the murder of British university student Henry Nowak to immigration, despite the fact that Mr Nowak’s killer was also British.
Mr Vance said the student would “still be alive today… if the last few generations of European elites had stood their ground against the politics of self-hatred and the mass invasion of migrants, many of whom despise the West and the people who love it”.
The US State Department also weighed in on the case, arguing that “two-tiered policing” must be rejected across the Western world.
Downing Street responded by accusing critics of “trying to interfere in our democracy and seeking to stir up division on our streets”.
D-Day commemorations were held across Normandy as veterans and dignitaries honoured the Allied landings of June 6, 1944.
Ceremonies took place at Juno Beach, the British Normandy Memorial and Bayeux War Cemetery, with UK Defence Secretary John Healey among those attending.
Nearly 160,000 Allied troops took part in the invasion, with 4,414 killed in action, while the Battle of Normandy claimed a further 73,000 Allied lives.
This year’s events saw the lowest number of surviving Normandy veterans since the British memorial opened in 2021.
The six veterans in attendance were Ken Hay, Richard Brock, Ken Benbow, Henry Rice, Marjorie Hanson and Roy Horner.
