Rubio blasts globalism and open borders at birthplace of Western civilization (VIDEO)

Washington has increasingly accused EU elites of sacrificing national sovereignty, free speech and cultural identity in pursuit of a globalist agenda US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has delivered a blistering attack on open borders, globalism and the erosion of national sovereignty in Europe, warning from the ancient heart of Athens that the West risks sliding into “atrophy, servitude and decline.” Speaking on Wednesday from the Pnyx, the ancient assembly site beneath the Acropolis, Rubio argued that Western governments had spent decades dismantling the very principles that had made their civilization successful.

“‘Nationalism’ became a dirty word,” Rubio said.

“So we tore down our monuments, we condemned our own history, and in too many places we taught our children to be ashamed of the countries they would inherit.” “In the process we opened our borders, and outsourced our industry, and allowed our militaries to wither and to decay,” he added.

Rubio contrasted the globalist approach embraced by much of the European political establishment with the Trump administration’s “America First” doctrine, arguing that governments have an obligation to put their own citizens above international institutions.

“It has become fashionable today to believe that enlightened foreign policy means prioritizing the global community over one’s own people,” he said, insisting the ancient Greeks understood that there was “nothing selfish or wrong about loyalty to your nation” or defending its interests “above all else.” Read more Trump blames French unrest on ‘mass migration’ (VIDEOS) The remarks amount to the latest broadside from Washington in an increasingly bitter ideological dispute with the EU over migration, censorship and national sovereignty.

The Trump administration has repeatedly portrayed Brussels and Western European governments as having betrayed their own populations.

US Vice President JD Vance has previously warned that Europe risks committing “civilizational suicide” through uncontrolled migration and curbs on free expression.

At the Munich Security Conference last year, he argued that the continent’s greatest danger came not from Russia or China, but from an internal retreat from democratic values.

The administration formalized much of that critique in its 2025 National Security Strategy, which warned that Europe faces potential “civilizational erasure.” Read more Vance warns EU of ‘civilizational suicide’ The trans-Atlantic clash has become particularly visible over immigration.

Just this week, US President Donald Trump blamed violent unrest in France on “out of control mass migration,” rejecting claims that the nationwide student protests were primarily about underfunded schools.