US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged Europe to “awaken from its long slumber” and rebuild its national, military and economic strength, warning that the West faces a decisive moment over its future global influence.
Speaking at the Pnyx in Athens on Wednesday, October 7, Rubio said the West was at an “inflection point” and that decisions made during the next decade would determine whether it retains its position as a global power.
“The next decade will write the story of the next century,” Rubio said, warning that the West could either remain “at the head of the world” or face “atrophy, servitude and decline.”
Rubio tied his argument to President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda, saying the United States had chosen what he called an “unapologetic pursuit of national power.”
He said that approach included taking control of critical supply chains, rebuilding defence capabilities, reindustrialising the economy and competing for leadership in the technologies and industries of the future.
The secretary of state used ancient Greece as the historical foundation for his argument, presenting its traditions of courage, ambition, exploration and national loyalty as qualities that helped shape Western civilisation.
Rubio said the ancient Greeks understood that there was nothing wrong with loyalty to one’s nation or defending its interests. He also invoked historical figures including Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Charlemagne and Hernán Cortés while describing the exploration and expansion that shaped Western history.
“We believe that Europe can awaken from its long slumber and rekindle the fire that was here millennia ago,” Rubio said.
He also argued that Western countries should not be ashamed of their history or regard nationalism as inherently negative. His remarks placed greater emphasis on national sovereignty and strength while still calling for the United States and Europe to maintain their alliance.
Rubio said Europe was already showing signs of what he described as a possible “generational shift,” pointing to increased defence spending, new security partnerships and expanded manufacturing and production.
The message came as European countries face continued pressure to strengthen their defence capabilities and assume greater responsibility for regional security. Rubio highlighted Greece as an important US ally and praised its cooperation with Washington on defence, energy, trade and security.
Earlier in Athens, Rubio and Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis announced closer cooperation between the two countries, including information-sharing between their law-enforcement agencies to combat terrorism and drug trafficking. The two sides also discussed migration and energy security.
Rubio’s Athens speech formed part of a three-country tour of NATO allies that began in Iceland and concludes in Portugal. His visit comes as Washington seeks to reinforce its relationships with European allies while the Trump administration continues to emphasise national sovereignty and greater defence spending.
For Rubio, the choice facing the West is whether it can translate that renewed confidence into stronger national capabilities, defence industries and technological leadership. His Athens message was ultimately a call for the United States and Europe to act before, in his words, they “lose the choice to act at all.”
