A Classical Backdrop for a Nationalist Message
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a speech defending Donald Trump's 'America first' foreign policy on Wednesday, with the Parthenon in Athens as a backdrop. The meticulously crafted speech, employing four cameras including one on a crane, seemed designed for campaign ads should Rubio run for president in 2028. Rubio's address drew historical parallels from ancient founders, philosophers, and conquerors to the contemporary American spirit and his family's migration to the United States.[S1][S2]
Rubio urged Europe to 'awaken from its long slumber' and reject a future of 'atrophy, servitude, and decline'. He vehemently denounced the globalist politics that Trump has blamed for America's and Europe's problems, such as illegal immigration and manufacturing outsourcing. Rubio defended America's pursuit of national power without apology.[S1]
A Crossroads for the West
Rubio asserted that the Western world is at a crossroads, where it must either maintain its global leadership or succumb to atrophy, servitude, and decline. He highlighted the Trump administration's commitment to reclaiming control of critical supply chains, reindustrializing the economy, rebuilding defense, and dominating future technologies and industries. This speech comes amid tensions between the US and Europe, including the war in Iran, Ukraine support disputes, NATO issues, and ideological divides exacerbated by figures like US Vice-President JD Vance.[S1]
The Trump administration's assertive use of national power has caused unease among European allies, who strive for compromises to maintain cooperation on Ukraine and through the European Union. Vance, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, warned European leaders at the Munich security conference last year about the 'threat from within' and their fear of their own people. Rubio, while less confrontational, advocates for a US-led European alliance against 'civilisational erasure'.[S1]
Invoking Lincoln and Courting Allies
Rubio addressed the US-Europe tensions by referencing Abraham Lincoln's inaugural address in 1861, emphasizing the need to preserve the bonds of affection between the US and Europe. He highlighted the recent agreement between the US, Denmark, and Greenland as a means to strengthen NATO and reshape the Arctic. The speech suggests that the shift in US geopolitical power may persist beyond the current administration, as evidenced by Rubio's and other Republican officials' strong messages to Europe.[S1]
Speaking to Greek and European officials and journalists, Rubio urged European allies to emulate Greece's partnership with the US on energy, migration, and defense. He encouraged Europe to awaken and rekindle the ancient fire, citing increased defense spending, manufacturing growth, and new partnerships. Rubio selectively interpreted history, linking the values of ancient Greeks to later figures like Christopher Columbus and Hernán Cortés, despite their controversial legacies in Latin America. He emphasized the frontier spirit that originated in antiquity.[S1]
A Personal and Historical Debt
In a unique moment, Rubio connected his personal journey back to Europe and the ancient Greeks. He reflected on his role as the secretary of state of the American republic, founded 250 years ago, and his great-grandfather's migration from Spain to the New World. Rubio emphasized an enduring debt to the past, marking a distinctive aspect of a secretary of state's speech during a tour through Iceland, Portugal, and Greece.[S1]
