Colleville-sur-mer: The US defense secretary on Saturday highlighted what he described as an "invasion" of "dangerous ideologies" arriving in Europe by sea, referring to ongoing migration issues. Speaking at the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, during the commemoration of the 82nd Anniversary of the WWII landing in Normandy, Pete Hegseth echoed concerns akin to those expressed by the Trump administration regarding migration into Europe.

According to Anadolu Agency, Hegseth emphasized the challenges facing European nations as their beaches, particularly in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria, experience arrivals by boat. "Sadly, today, different European beaches are stormed by different, dangerous ideologies. Beaches in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria, boats and men arrive," he stated. He further questioned when European capitals would take action against what he termed an "invasion" and expressed hope that it was not too late to address the issue.

Hegseth asserted the importance of learning from historical events, stressing that as the world encounters an "increasingly complex threat environment," the lessons from 82 years ago remain relevant. He urged for strong alliances where each nation is committed to contributing to collective security efforts. The Defense Ministry statement noted his call for Western nations to resist complacency, reminding them that freedom incurs a cost.

"We forgot that freedom is not free. We forgot that peace is not wished into being. It is bought with purpose, with honor and with strength. The men who landed on these beaches knew this; the question we ask ourselves is, do we?" Hegseth concluded, reflecting on the sacrifices made during WWII and their relevance to current geopolitical challenges.