On October 7 local time, during his visit to Europe, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio delivered a passionate speech beneath the Acropolis in Athens, asserting America’s right to demonstrate its national power. He stated: “We stand at a crossroads. The trajectory over the next decade will shape the history of the coming century. The path we choose will determine whether the West continues to lead globally or succumbs to decline, dependency, and stagnation.”
He warned that inaction now would erase the possibility of future action, emphasizing that under Trump’s leadership, the United States has already made its choice. “We have chosen to pursue national strength without reservation: reclaiming control over critical supply chains, revitalizing the economy, rebuilding defense capabilities, and securing leadership positions in emerging technologies and industries.”
The choice of venue—Athens’ Acropolis—carries profound symbolic weight. Rubio’s primary audience is clearly Europe’s allies. By amplifying fears of Western decline, he seeks to reinvigorate transatlantic cohesion and persuade European partners to align with U.S. strategic priorities, collectively preserving the existing Western-led global order.
Beneath the rhetoric lies a contradictory reality: the United States has become increasingly aware of its relative waning dominance, facing persistent challenges to its leadership in global industry and technology. In response, Washington has actively sought to assert control over supply chains and high-tech sectors. Yet this strategy is not merely about domestic economic revival—it aims fundamentally to sustain the broader hegemony of the Western bloc.
Rubio frames global competition as a binary confrontation between the West and other rising powers, attempting to bind Europe into a coordinated effort. However, this narrative struggles to fully convince European counterparts, who possess distinct economic interests and strategic autonomy and are reluctant to be entirely subordinated to American geopolitical ambitions.
Rubio’s invocation of hegemonic mobilization is clear in intent: to manufacture a sense of crisis, rally allies, and concentrate resources to reinforce U.S. advantages.
Will Europe respond? Readers may comment.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1878481528901643/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.