Overview
- Pete Hegseth delivered a speech at the American cemetery in Colleville‑sur‑Mer on Saturday urging European allies to increase military capabilities and share defense responsibilities with the United States.
- He framed irregular migration to Mediterranean coasts as a security and ideological threat, explicitly citing Spain, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria and asking when their capitals will act against what he called an invasion.
- Hegseth said that “peace is guaranteed only through force” and called for readiness, shared capabilities and political will on both sides of the Atlantic.
- The trip drew domestic scrutiny because Hegseth traveled with his wife and six children, and Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said rules and ethics were followed while staff said family travel costs would be paid personally but did not confirm who will cover extra security expenses.
- Coverage split along partisan lines, with some outlets emphasizing the appeal for rearmament and tougher migration policy and others criticizing the use of D‑Day symbolism and the unanswered security and cost questions ahead of a July NATO summit.