At Normandy Commemoration, Hegseth Slams Europe’s Immigration Policies

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used his speech at a ceremony marking the anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy to deliver a sharp message about immigration policy in Europe and to call on the continent’s countries to increase their investments in security and defense.

The speech took place last night (*Shabbat*) as part of the memorial events for the Normandy invasion, which took place on June 6, 1944, and became a major turning point in World War II. Speaking at the American cemetery in Normandy, in Colleville-sur-Mer in northwestern France, Hegseth chose to connect the events of the past with the challenges of the present, focusing on waves of migration to the European continent.

According to Hegseth, while the Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy to free Western Europe from Nazi occupation, the continent now faces a different threat: "Unfortunately, today, different European beaches are under attack by different and dangerous ideologies — beaches in Spain, in Italy, in Greece, and in Bulgaria; boats and people are arriving."
He went on to ask: "When will Europe’s capitals do something about this invasion? Or is it too late? I pray not, and I believe it is not."

Alongside his criticism of immigration policy, the American defense secretary also stressed the importance of cooperation among NATO members. He noted that each of the Allied nations in World War II contributed its part to the Normandy operation, and argued that a similar commitment is required today from European countries to strengthen their military capabilities.

"America will lead, but capable allies have to be there with us, shoulder to shoulder, in the breach, when it matters," Hegseth said.

Hegseth’s remarks join a series of similar statements by senior officials in the American administration, led by President Donald Trump, who has criticized European countries over what he described as an inability to deal with the issue of immigration. According to the report, Washington also warned last December of a possible "cultural erasure" of Europe, which it argues could result from immigration, the weakening of national identities, and government decisions seen as harming state sovereignty.