A U.S. security analyst says Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to Athens is a turning point, and that Greece and the United States are entering what he called a "special relationship."
Jake Sotiriadis, a former U.S. officer, spoke to Parapolitika 90.1 radio. He compared the new bond to the one between Washington and London.
He said Mr. Rubio's speech at the Pnyx was more than diplomacy.
The Pnyx is the hill where ancient Athenians held democratic assemblies. Mr. Sotiriadis called the speech an effort at "deep ideological re-founding of the West."
He said Mr. Rubio's choice of Athens shows how much Greece now matters to Washington.
"Every Greek patriot should be very pleased," he said.
He said that Mr. Rubio called Greece a model ally and an irreplaceable partner and urged Athens to use the moment.
The State Department had previewed the speech as a call for Americans and Europeans to unite in a "renaissance of the Western spirit."
It traced a line from Athens and Rome through Christianity to the American founding.
Not everyone agrees. Mr. Rubio struck similar notes at the Munich Security Conference in February.
Critics, including Hillary Clinton, said his idea of Western civilization was historically selective.
In Athens, opposition leader Alexis Tsipras welcomed the talks.
He warned, though, that Washington might gain more than Greece.
The visit ended with $4 billion in announced U.S. arms sales.
Limits, however, remain. Washington still balances its ties with Turkey.