Slovak PM Robert Fico honors WWII soldiers at Normandy D-Day 82nd anniversary

Veterans, officials and diplomats gathered in northern France on 6 June to mark the 82nd anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy. The ceremonies began in Ouistreham with the traditional handing of diplomas and green berets to French navy personnel, and continued in Langrune‑sur‑Mer with ambassadors from the United States, Germany and other Allied nations in attendance.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico visited Dunkirk, laid a wreath at the memorial to Czech‑Slovak and other Allied troops, and paid tribute to those who fought in the 1944 invasion. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and other officials participated, while U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to attend and was represented by Deputy Elbridge Colby. The events featured military parades, historic reenactments and cultural programs aimed at preserving the memory of the D‑Day operation, which involved nearly 160,000 Allied soldiers and marked the opening of the Western front in World War II.