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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
World
RFI

Hegseth urges Europe to counter migrant 'invasion' in D-Day anniversary speech

French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Catherine Vautrin (R) welcomes US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth ahead of a ceremony marking the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, northwestern France, on 6 June 2026.
French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Catherine Vautrin (R) welcomes US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth ahead of a ceremony marking the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, northwestern France, on 6 June 2026. AFP - LOU BENOIST

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has urged European countries to confront what he described as an “invasion” of their coastlines by migration, using a D-Day anniversary speech in Normandy to press both cultural and security arguments central to President Donald Trump’s administration.

Speaking on Saturday at the American military cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer on the Normandy coast, Hegseth marked the 82nd anniversary of the Allied landings in northern France by drawing a direct contrast between the shared sacrifice of World War II and what he presented as today’s challenges facing Europe.

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