Marco Rubio Urges Western Renewal

Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Athens to discuss economic, energy and security cooperation with Greece. He was scheduled to deliver a major address near the Acropolis on Wednesday calling for Americans and Europeans to renew what he described as the Western spirit. The message follows Trump administration pressure on European allies to raise defense spending and criticism of migration policies and declining traditional Western values. In prepared remarks, Rubio said the next decade could decide whether the West keeps global influence or declines. He said Greece was on track to meet President Donald Trump’s 5% defense-spending benchmark. The countries announced a security arrangement to strengthen counterterrorism information-sharing. More than 2,000 demonstrators protested in central Athens.