\n<\/p>\n
In an interview with Matthew Boyle of Breitbart News, Rubio described Greece as an important US ally in energy independence, regional stability and NATO. He highlighted Greece\u2019s potential to produce energy and serve as a transport corridor linking Europe, Africa and the Middle East.<\/p>\n
Rubio also discussed his speech at Pnyx, with the Acropolis in the background, connecting US foreign policy to the shared cultural heritage of Western civilisation.<\/p>\n
Greece Deserves a Strong Ambassador<\/strong><\/p>\n Addressing the selection of a successor to Kimberly Guilfoyle in Athens, Rubio said the process remained at an early stage at the time of the interview. He explained that the administration would need time to identify the right candidate and complete the appointment\u2019s confirmation process.<\/p>\n \u201cGreece is an important country, a very important country. It is a great ally of the United States,\u201d Rubio said. \u201cIt has helped us in so many ways, and it is important to our future.\u201d<\/p>\n He identified Greece as a key partner in advancing major US priorities, including energy independence, regional stability and NATO.<\/p>\n \u201cGreece deserves a strong and good ambassador who has access to the president and his confidence,\u201d Rubio said. He added that Washington would ensure the embassy maintained an appropriate team in the interim.<\/p>\n \u201cUnder no circumstances should any of this be considered a downgrade in the relationship with Greece. On the contrary, I believe it is so important to us that the person serving there must have the president\u2019s full support and confidence,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Rubio stressed that the administration wanted to appoint an ambassador who reflected Greece\u2019s importance and the strength of the bilateral relationship.<\/p>\n Greece\u2019s Strategic Role in Energy<\/strong><\/p>\n Rubio highlighted Greece\u2019s geographical position and its openness to energy exploration, arguing that the combination created significant opportunities.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Greece is in a particularly unique position, both geographically and politically,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He noted that Greece welcomed energy exploration and approached it enthusiastically, adding that public support for these activities also appeared strong.<\/p>\n Rubio also emphasised Greece\u2019s potential to host pipelines and other infrastructure that could transport energy across borders. He argued that energy production alone was not enough: countries also needed the infrastructure to move oil, natural gas and electricity to consumers.<\/p>\n \u201cGreece has always been the link between Europe, Africa and the Middle East,\u201d he said. \u201cBeyond producing energy, it can help transport it north towards Europe and south towards Israel, the Middle East and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Rubio, Greece\u2019s geography gives it significant advantages in the energy sector, much as it has historically supported trade and other economic activities.<\/p>\n Rubio Criticises European Energy Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n The US secretary of state argued that the international crisis had reminded the world how essential energy is to everyday life, industry and defence. He criticised policies that seek to curb fossil fuel consumption by making it more expensive, as well as Europe\u2019s failure to develop sufficient domestic energy sources.<\/p>\n Rubio recalled Donald Trump\u2019s warnings during his first presidential term about Germany\u2019s dependence on Russian energy. He argued that this dependence influenced Moscow\u2019s calculations before Russia invaded Ukraine.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir dependence on Russian energy is one of the reasons Putin invaded Ukraine, because he believed he could do it, because he believed Europe would do nothing about it,\u201d Rubio said.<\/p>\n He suggested that European countries were beginning to draw lessons from the crisis but would need time to reverse energy policies pursued over two decades. He also linked high electricity and transport costs to economic stagnation in many European countries.<\/p>\n Pnyx Speech Highlights Shared Western Heritage<\/strong><\/p>\n Reflecting on his speech at Pnyx, Rubio said its message lay at the heart of the approach the US administration wanted to incorporate into its foreign policy.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are the heirs. We inherited from Greece and Rome, and ultimately through Europe, many of the values on which our country rests today,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Rubio argued that American institutions and values emerged from thousands of years of history. He said recognising that heritage did not amount to an attack on other civilisations.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery civilisation should be proud of itself,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He argued that Western societies often approached their own history and achievements apologetically, with consequences for their foreign policies.<\/p>\n Referring to the prosperity and political system that Americans often take for granted, Rubio said: \u201cThey come from a shared history that we must rediscover and embrace. That is what we are doing here in this country under President Trump. We want more Western leaders to do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n Rubio said he had noticed growing support for these views among other leaders, particularly in private conversations. However, he acknowledged that turning such attitudes into policy would take time because leaders feared criticism from the far left, the media, academia and established bureaucracies.<\/p>\n He predicted that more leaders would eventually express these views publicly and win elections, influencing how their countries approached the shared interests of the West.<\/p>\n Russian Diesel and US National Interests<\/strong><\/p>\n Turning to the war in Ukraine and relations with Russia, Rubio defended the temporary easing of sanctions on Russian diesel to increase supplies on the global market.<\/p>\n He explained that the decision aimed to serve the needs of the US economy, even if other countries also benefited.<\/p>\n \u201cIf there is a conflict between what is good for them and what is good for us, we must always choose what is good for us,\u201d he said, emphasising the priority of US national interests.<\/p>\n He added that Washington had made the decision \u201cnot because it is bad for Ukraine or good for Russia, but because it is good and important for America\u201d.<\/p>\n Rubio identified control of Donetsk as a major obstacle to negotiations aimed at ending the war. He said Russia wanted the entire region, while Ukraine regarded the defensive line it holds there as essential to its security.<\/p>\n He said the United States remained ready to mediate a settlement but acknowledged the difficulties involved.<\/p>\n \u201cWe would like the war to end, but we also have other priorities around the world on which we are focusing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Asked about holding elections in Ukraine, Rubio said the issue mattered but was not the principal reason the war continued.<\/p>\n He also expressed frustration over Ukrainian strikes on vessels in the Black Sea that, according to him, carried oil belonging to American companies. However, he clarified that he did not believe Ukraine had deliberately targeted those vessels.<\/p>\n Rubio added that Trump was also unhappy with Russian missile attacks that hit residential buildings and killed civilians in Kyiv.<\/p>\n Iran and Security in the Strait of Hormuz<\/strong><\/p>\n Rubio argued that US military operations had weakened Iran\u2019s conventional military capabilities, which he said Tehran sought to use as a shield while pursuing a nuclear weapon.<\/p>\n He said the US military presence now focused on protecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while sanctions and a blockade against Iran remained in place.<\/p>\n According to Rubio, an average of approximately 13 million to 14 million barrels of oil passed through the strait each day during the 10 days preceding the interview. He said US forces escorted and protected vessels against attacks.<\/p>\n Rubio acknowledged that Iran continued to attack ships but maintained that oil flows to international markets had largely recovered. He also claimed that the blockade had left Iran as the only country unable to ship any oil through the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n He added that economic pressure was restricting the resources Tehran could devote to its armed forces and groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas.<\/p>\n More broadly, Rubio described Iran\u2019s leadership as a central source of conflict and instability in the Middle East. While acknowledging the importance of the Palestinian issue, he argued that addressing Tehran\u2019s regional role was essential to resolving conflicts across the region.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n