Rubio, speaking at the Acropolis, calls for 'unapologetic pursuit of national power' and warns Europe

Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Wednesday for the "unapologetic pursuit of national power" in a speech delivered before the Acropolis in Athens, and warned that the West faces a choice between renewal and decline. The State Department posted the full remarks on X.[1][6]

Rubio spoke from the Pnyx, where ancient Athenians held their democratic assemblies, before about 250 invited guests. According to a senior State Department official cited by CBS News, they included senior Greek officials, diplomats and representatives of business, education and culture.[6]

"The course we take will determine whether the West maintains its place at the head of the world or resigns itself to a future of atrophy and servitude and decline," Rubio said. "Under President Trump, the United States has made its choice." He said that choice includes taking back control of critical supply chains, reindustrializing the economy, rebuilding the military and competing for dominance in future technologies.[6]

Bloomberg reported that Rubio also faulted other Western nations for letting their militaries decline and for giving up sovereignty to global institutions. CBS News reported that the speech built on themes Rubio raised at the Munich Security Conference in February, where Rubio warned of "civilizational erasure" in Europe.[3][6]

Rubio also referred to Iran, contrasting Western ideas of sacrifice with what Rubio called a "cult of death" among Iran's "radical mullahs." The United States is seven months into a war with Iran and has not secured an agreement to end it, CBS News reported.[6]

At a news conference in Athens, Rubio was asked about the U.S. position on Iranian enrichment after Vice President JD Vance said this week that Iran would need to make a "meaningful" reduction in its enrichment capacity. "Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Simple, period and end of story," Rubio said, adding that Rubio would not discuss what would be acceptable.[6]

Rubio met Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis for the sixth U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue on defense, energy and regional security. Gerapetritis said Greece could provide maritime assistance in the Strait of Hormuz if a viable peace process is established, CBS News reported.[6]