© picture alliance / newscom | BONNIE CASH
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth participated in a ceremony commemorating D-Day at the U.S. Military Cemetery in Colleville-sur-mer on Saturday. He made the link between the Normandy landings and immigration.
"Unfortunately, several European beaches today are overrun by all kinds of dangerous ideologies," Hegseth said on the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. "On beaches in Spain, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria, boats and people are arriving. When will European capitals do something about this invasion? Or is it already too late?"
Hegseth spoke of the crucial role of U.S. troops in the Allied landings in Normandy. He called for lessons to be learned from the past and offered veiled criticism of NATO partners: "The men buried here fought in a war alliance in which each partner delivered its full share of commitment, courage and sacrifice. No empty slogans, no lavish summits, no communiqués. Real allies doing real things and making real sacrifices for a common cause worth fighting and dying for."
"Every ally shed blood and did its part in 1944. The United States must show the way, and we do, but our allies must stand shoulder to shoulder," it echoed.
The Normandy landings of British, American and Canadian troops on June 6, 1944 were the largest amphibious operation in history. The operation contributed decisively to the victory over Nazi Germany.
Picture: © picture alliance / newscom | BONNIE CASH