Rubio’s Greece Speech and the Relics of a Past That Never Was

On October 7, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a civilizational speech about the West. The Athens Acropolis was in the background, emphasizing his words’ meaning. Although Rubio’s address represented a counterbalance to US Vice President JD Vance’s Munich speech, which accused Europeans of betraying their own values, the difference lay more in tone than in substance. While extending an olive branch to Europe, Rubio nonetheless made a call for the continent to “emerge from its long slumber” and take part in a Western renewal built on power, industry and defense. Liberal internationalism and the pursuit of national power Rubio’s message presented a vision centered on Western civilization’s shared historical heritage, strength and the pursuit of power. His words challenged liberal internationalism on several fundamental grounds.

This excerpt comes from the named source. Read the original for the full reporting.