During a speech on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Western countries to embrace the ancient Greek values of heroism, honor, and duty, connecting these principles to President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda.
Rubio expressed to Greek officials, diplomats, and other attendees that the notion of enlightened foreign policy prioritizing global community over national interests has gained popularity. Standing against the backdrop of the Parthenon, he asserted that the people of ancient Greece understood that there is nothing selfish or wrong in loyalty to one’s own nation.
Considered a leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028, Rubio chose to deliver his speech at Pnyx, the historic site in ancient Athens where the assembly convened.
The themes of Rubio’s address echoed those presented by Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference in February 2025, where Vance depicted Europe’s challenges as a departure from Western common values, a claim that drew criticism from European leaders.
Subsequently, the Trump administration’s National Security Strategy, released in November 2025, warned that Europe faces a “erasure of civilization” due to migration and challenges to national sovereignty.
“Today we stand at a crossroads, as the decisions we make in the next decade will write the story of the next century,” Rubio stated. “The direction we choose will determine whether the West maintains its leadership in the world or resigns itself to a future of stagnation, submission, and decline.”
Rubio further emphasized, “Under President Trump, the United States has made a choice. We choose to pursue national power without hesitation.”
Rubio is currently on a tour visiting three NATO ally nations in Europe, which began in Iceland. Earlier on Wednesday, he and his Greek counterpart reaffirmed the close ties between the U.S. and Greece in security, energy, and trade.
He is set to conclude his tour on Thursday with discussions with Portuguese officials in Lisbon.
