US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has criticised European countries over migration, using a D-Day anniversary speech in France to warn about what he called an “invasion” arriving on European shores.
Hegseth spoke in Normandy during commemorations marking 82 years since Allied forces landed on French beaches in 1944 to help liberate Nazi-occupied Europe.
During his speech, he said European beaches today face a different kind of threat, pointing to migration routes into countries such as Spain, Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria.
Migration Becomes Political Flashpoint
Hegseth’s comments come as migration remains one of the most divisive political issues across Europe. Parties calling for tougher immigration controls have gained support in several countries, making border policy a major election issue.
The Trump administration has also made immigration enforcement a central part of its domestic agenda. It has requested billions of dollars in additional funding for enforcement agencies and has taken a hardline position on border control.
Hegseth’s remarks add to a growing list of criticisms from senior US officials aimed at European migration policy.
JD Vance Also Criticizes Migration Policy
His comments came shortly after US Vice-President JD Vance linked the death of British student Henry Nowak to what he called a mass migrant crisis.
Nowak, an 18-year-old student, was fatally stabbed in Southampton last year by Vickrum Digwa. Vance said the case should cause anger over migration policy.
The UK government pushed back, saying foreign officials should not interfere in British democracy. Downing Street also noted that Nowak’s family did not want his death used to increase public division.
The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed that Digwa was born British.
D-Day Message Turns Political
Speaking in France, Hegseth said some European capitals had become too comfortable with the freedoms won during World War II.
He said the soldiers who fought and died in Normandy restored freedom to Europe, but warned that freedom must be protected by today’s leaders and military forces.
His speech connected the memory of D-Day with current debates over national security, migration, and political identity in Europe.
Trump Has Also Criticized Europe
US President Donald Trump has previously criticised European immigration policy. In a speech at the United Nations last year, he said European countries were facing serious decline because of uncontrolled migration.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer rejected Trump’s remarks, saying they were not accurate. However, he also acknowledged the need to address illegal migration, especially small boat crossings across the English Channel.
Sea Arrivals Remain a Major Issue
Sea arrivals into mainland Europe reached their highest point in 2015, when more than one million people crossed the Mediterranean, according to the UN.
Between April 2025 and March 2026, the UK, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Cyprus recorded a combined 169,341 sea arrivals. Crossings to the UK made up around 23 percent of that total.
From January 1 to June 3, 2026, 9,142 people crossed the English Channel by small boat from France to the UK. That figure was 38 percent lower than the same period the previous year.
US Strategy Warns About Europe’s Future
In December, the Trump administration released a new National Security Strategy that warned Europe could become “unrecognisable” within 20 years if current trends continue.
The document argued that Europe’s economic problems were being overshadowed by deeper concerns over identity, stability, and migration.
At home, the Trump administration has continued to expand immigration enforcement. Since January 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have made thousands of arrests.
Remarks Add Pressure to Transatlantic Ties
Hegseth’s D-Day speech has added another layer of tension between Washington and European capitals.
While the event was meant to honour the Allied soldiers who fought in Normandy, his remarks shifted attention toward modern migration debates and Europe’s political direction.
The comments show how migration remains a central issue not only within Europe, but also in relations between the United States and its allies.