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Pete Hegseth urges Europe: Peace requires strength, not comfort
🇱🇹 Lithuania /Conflict & Security

Pete Hegseth urges Europe: Peace requires strength, not comfort

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Europe to recognize that peace is secured through strength and a readiness to defend Western values.
  • He criticized European nations for becoming too comfortable and forgetting that freedom is not free, drawing a parallel between historical landings and modern migration.
  • Hegseth warned of dangerous ideologies entering Europe and questioned whether it is too late for the continent to act.

Pete Hegseth, identified by President Donald Trump as a potential war secretary, has issued a stark call to Europe, emphasizing that peace is maintained not by desire but by strength, preparedness, and a shared political will.

Peace is secured only by strength – strength on both sides of the Atlantic, reinforced by readiness, shared military capabilities, and a strong political will.

— Pete HegsethSpeaking at the U.S. military cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer about the conditions for maintaining peace.

Speaking at the U.S. military cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, Hegseth stated, "Peace is secured only by strength – strength on both sides of the Atlantic, reinforced by readiness, shared military capabilities, and a strong political will." He asserted that the world is safer and more prosperous when the United States and its allies are strong and resolute in defending their traditions of freedom. While America will lead, he stressed, competent allies must stand shoulder-to-shoulder when necessary.

Our world is safer and thrives more when the United States and our allies are strong, free, and determined to defend our Western tradition of freedom.

— Pete HegsethElaborating on the role of American and allied strength in global security.

Hegseth suggested that much of the West had grown complacent after World War II, forgetting that freedom is not a given and peace requires resolve and strength. He provocatively compared the Allied landings in Normandy in 1944 to modern migrant attempts to cross the Mediterranean, which he termed an "invasion." "Unfortunately, today various dangerous ideologies are storming various European beaches," he remarked, referencing arrivals in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria.

We support our allies and expect them to be capable and ready to support us.

— Pete HegsethHighlighting the expectation of reciprocal support within alliances.

"When will European capitals do something about that invasion? Is it too late? I hope not, and I think not," Hegseth stated, posing a direct challenge to European leaders. He shared the stage at the commemoration ceremony with his French counterpart, Catherine Vautrin.

We forgot that freedom is not free. We forgot that peace cannot be achieved by merely wishing for it. It is gained by resolve, honor, and strength.

— Pete HegsethReflecting on a perceived complacency in the West and the true cost of peace.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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