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Hegseth Urges Europe to Strengthen Defense at Normandy
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, attending memorial ceremonies in Normandy, stated that Europe must first strengthen its conventional defense on its own. His remarks came amid the U.S. decision to reduce troop numbers in Europe and ahead of the NATO summit scheduled in Ankara next month.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said upon arriving in Normandy that Europe must take primary responsibility for its conventional defense. Hegseth is participating in memorial events marking the 82nd anniversary of the 1944 Normandy Landings.
During a meeting that included French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin, Hegseth emphasized that allies like France must seriously acknowledge this reality and demonstrate it through tangible progress. This message comes at a time when pressure on Europe’s defense capabilities is rising again.
At the end of May, during a visit to Singapore, Hegseth had criticized Europeans for ignoring long-standing calls to strengthen their defenses. His statements in Normandy reaffirmed this firm stance.
The French side, through Vautrin’s remarks, highlighted a "rearmament effort" underway. This brought the discussion on how Europe shares the security burden clearly to the forefront during the meeting.
Hegseth’s comments came immediately after the U.S. announced plans to reduce the number of troops stationed in Europe. This development has made the debate over defense responsibilities within the alliance even more visible ahead of the NATO summit planned in Ankara next month.
The official D-Day commemorations in Normandy began at 1:00 PM local time in Ouistreham. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu presented certificates and green berets to the families of Captain Philippe Kieffer and his 177 French commandos who landed on Sword Beach on June 6, 1944.
The international ceremony is expected to start at 4:00 PM in Langrune-sur-Mer. The event will include ambassadors and officers representing the Allied forces, as well as representatives from Germany.
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