US Secretary of State Rubio Calls on Europe to Awaken in Cradle of Western Civilization

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, currently on a tour of Europe, visited the Greek capital of Athens on the 7th (local time) and urged Europe to awaken from its long slumber and defend Western primacy.

According to foreign media outlets including The New York Times (NYT), Secretary Rubio said in a speech at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, "We are currently at a crossroads," adding, "The path we choose will determine whether the West maintains its leading position in the world or steps down from it, leading to a future of decline and subjugation."

He went on to emphasize, "We believe that Europe can awaken from its long slumber and reignite the flame that began to burn right here thousands of years ago."

He stated, "The ancient Greeks knew that loyalty to the nation was neither selfish nor wrong," and added, "We choose the path of pursuing national power without hesitation."

Furthermore, noting that ancient Greeks idealized great figures who achieved immortality through exceptional accomplishments and that the pioneer spirit of the West stemmed from this ancient ethos, he listed notable figures in European history such as Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Charlemagne.

In doing so, he included Hernan Cortes of Spain, who conquered the Aztec Empire representing ancient Mesoamerican civilizations in the 16th century, in his list of great figures.

This part can be interpreted as urging Europe to revive the spirit of former imperialist conquerors, amid criticisms and calls for reflection from some quarters regarding past European conquest and colonial rule of the Americas.

The NYT evaluated Secretary Rubio's speech as an effort to "highlight the ideological principles of the American conservative movement that regards President Donald Trump as its leader."

Secretary Rubio previously sparked controversy last February at the Munich Security Conference in Germany by criticizing Europe's immigration policies and pointing out that it faces the danger of "civilizational erasure."

The NYT interpreted that this Athens speech shares the same vein as his remarks in Munich last February.

British media outlet The Guardian also pointed out regarding Secretary Rubio's Athens speech that it was "a defense of President Trump's America First foreign policy with a classical tinge."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.