10/08/2026
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio placed ancient Greece at the heart of the historical and cultural relationship between Greece and the United States, saying that America and the wider Western world owe an enormous debt to Greek civilization.
Speaking during his visit to Athens, Rubio emphasized that the relationship between the two countries extends far beyond modern diplomacy and strategic interests.
“Our relationship is founded not just in common history, but in enduring ties to family, culture, religion. We have a shared heritage,” Rubio said.
He then made a striking reference to the influence of ancient Greece on the United States and Western civilization.
“We are indebted to ancient Greece for shaping not just our country but, frankly, our civilization.”
Rubio’s remarks highlighted the long-standing influence of ancient Greek thought on the foundations of the Western political and intellectual tradition. From philosophy and political thought to democratic institutions and civic ideals, ancient Greece has played a central role in the historical development of ideas that later influenced Europe and the United States.
For Greece, this connection represents a central part of its modern national identity and its relationship with the wider Western world. The legacy of ancient Greek civilization has also frequently been invoked by American leaders when describing the historical ties between the two nations.
What made Rubio’s remarks particularly notable was the directness with which he described the relationship. Rather than referring only to Greece as an important historical ally, the U.S. Secretary of State explicitly connected the ancient Greek legacy with the foundations of American civilization itself.
His comments also came as Greece and the United States continue to deepen their strategic partnership, with cooperation extending across defense, energy, security, migration and regional stability.
For many Greeks, Rubio’s statement echoed something that has been emphasized for generations: that the influence of ancient Greece extends far beyond the country's borders and remains deeply embedded in the political, philosophical and cultural traditions of the modern West.
Coming from the highest levels of the U.S. government, however, the message carried particular symbolic weight — a reminder that the relationship between Athens and Washington is rooted not only in present-day strategic interests, but also in a shared historical heritage that stretches back thousands of years.
