Hegseth Warns of "Invasion of Dangerous Ideologies"

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, speaking at commemorations for the 82nd anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy, said Europe was facing an "invasion of dangerous ideologies" arriving by sea alongside migrants.

Speaking at the US military cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, he compared the current situation to the historic events of the Second World War. He pointed to beaches in Spain, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria, where he said migrant boats were arriving, and questioned whether European capitals would be able to respond to what he called an "invasion".

His remarks follow sustained criticism of Europe by the Trump administration, with Washington repeatedly claiming that European countries are failing to manage migration, maintain adequate defenses and protect the voices of nationalist and far-right political forces from over-regulation.

Senior US officials, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, have repeatedly criticized European states in recent months for failing to control migration. A US national security strategy document from last year warned of Europe's "civilizational erasure".

(reuters, bak)