Rubio Urges Europe to Confront Modern Threats at Athens Speech

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the West stands at “an inflection point” and urged European nations to join the United States in confronting contemporary dangers. Speaking in Athens, Greece, on Wednesday, Rubio invoked classical history and American heritage to emphasize the need for allies to reaffirm their sovereignty and democratic values.

“We are at an inflection point, an inflection point not only in the history of my nation, but an inflection point in the whole of our civilization,” Rubio said, addressing the audience with the Acropolis in the background. He asserted that “the threats we face today are every bit as real as they were on the dramatic stage of antiquity.”

Rubio encouraged European nations to “awaken from its long slumber and rekindle the fire that was here millennia ago,” drawing parallels from figures like Achilles and historical events such as the Alamo. He suggested that by looking to the past, including the achievements of Western civilization's founders, allies could rediscover the virtues, courage, and strength needed to address current challenges.

“We should marvel at what our forefathers carved out of this countryside,” he continued. “The story of our civilization is the greatest story ever known to man, and it began here with the first men and women of the West.”

“From them … we can rediscover the virtues,” the secretary added. “The courage and the strength to confront the dangers that we face in our time.”