Marco Rubio in Athens

On 6-7 October 2026 US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, Marco Rubio, travelled to Greece in the context of the round of the US-Greece Strategic Dialogue.

The highlight of his presence in Athens was his speech in Pnyx hillside, with the Parthenon of the Acropolis as background – the very birthplace of Democracy.

Marco Rubio’s speech at Pnyx was a hymn to ancient Greece and to the triad of Greece, Rome and Christianity as the spiritual foundations of the West as an idea.

Beyond that, it was a speech driven by a specific agenda, aligned with the objectives of the current US administration of President Donald J. Trump.

Yet, it was also a speech with a distinctly presidential tone, carrying a legacy for the future.

When combined with the fact that Rubio spent over two hours at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, receiving a detailed, private briefing on a range of issues, this leads us to the next significant conclusion of the two-day visit.

Rubio stands out as the only genuine politician within Trump’s inner circle during this term—in contrast to the 2016-2020 administration—which inevitably lends special weight to his public statements; these frequently serve to balance a multitude of competing factors.

It is also significant that the US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor appears to hold clear-cut views regarding who qualifies as a friend, an ally and a Western partner.

In the years ahead, the “magic word”—one that will take on a positive connotation and be highly sought after—will be “predictability.”

Given that the terms “political will” and “national strategy” are always prioritized, the positive and steadfast stance of a traditional politician with strong aspirations across the Atlantic is not only tactically useful, but also diplomatically valuable.