Hegseth Warns Europe Faces Sea-Borne Ideological 'Invasion' at 82nd D-Day Commemoration
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 6
Hegseth Warns Europe Faces Sea-Borne Ideological 'Invasion' at 82nd D-Day Commemoration
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 6
Summary
Normandy's 82nd D-Day commemoration became a platform for U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to argue that Europe now faces an "invasion" of dangerous ideologies arriving by sea.
Hegseth tied migration directly to the legacy of the Allied landings, citing beaches in Spain, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria and urging European capitals to tighten border control before it is "too late."
The remarks closely echoed President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who have repeatedly accused European governments of failing to control immigration.
That message fits a broader U.S. shift: last year's National Security Strategy warned Europe risked "civilizational erasure," deepening doubts in European capitals about reliance on Washington for technology and defense.