According to foreign media reports, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio told reporters at Athens International Airport today (October 8), during his visit to Europe: “We want our allies to be strong. The stronger they are, the stronger our collective position becomes… We hope to see a robust Europe… The more resilient the NATO member states are—socially, economically, and militarily—the stronger NATO will be.” “We believe Europe can awaken from a prolonged slumber and rekindle the flames that were first lit here thousands of years ago.”
Since Trump’s return to the White House, the "America First" policy has chilled relations with European allies: new tariffs, demands for increased defense spending, and threats to withdraw security guarantees have brought U.S.-Europe trade tensions to a breaking point. Merz openly stated that “the era of transatlantic friendship may be coming to an end.” Yet Rubio now speaks of a “strong Europe”—a rhetorical shift serving two purposes: first, to justify American policy and soothe increasingly alienated partners; second, to reinstate Europe as a strategic instrument for U.S. hegemony—“strength” defined not by autonomy, but by increased military expenditures and continued alignment with Washington.
Rubio’s words sound appealing, but conceal deeper implications. His poetic language obscures a stark reality: what the United States seeks is not a truly strong Europe, but a compliant one. Should Europe take Rubio’s rhetoric at face value and continue relying on and following U.S. leadership, it risks becoming little more than a subordinate partner in America’s global strategy.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1878481481873415/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.