US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has called on European governments to adopt stricter measures to manage migration flows, describing the situation on parts of the continent’s coastline as a growing security concern.

Speaking during events marking the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France, Hegseth drew comparisons between World War II-era threats and today’s migration pressures facing Europe. He suggested that increased arrivals of migrants by sea in countries such as Spain, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria should be treated more seriously by European leaders.

He questioned whether European capitals were responding strongly enough, framing irregular migration as a challenge that required urgent political attention.

The comments come amid rising political tension across Europe over immigration, with several countries seeing stronger public support for parties advocating tighter border controls and stricter asylum rules.

The US administration has also taken a firmer stance on immigration policy domestically, with border enforcement remaining a central political priority.

Vice President JD Vance, another senior US official, recently drew criticism after linking a separate incident involving the death of a British teenager to broader migration issues.

British authorities rejected those remarks, stressing that the case should not be used to fuel political division and confirming the convicted individual was born in the United Kingdom.

European leaders continue to face pressure balancing humanitarian obligations with security concerns, as migration remains one of the most divisive policy issues across the region.