President Barack Obama plans to issue a paean to democracy Wednesday following his tour of the Acropolis in Greece, a symbolic nod to the ancient birthplace of the system, which he insists will prevail amid challenges around the globe.
It’s the final stage for Obama’s two-day stop in Athens, where he was the first US president to visit in 17 years. He came to discuss the nation’s persistent debt issues and its program for admitting refugees, though at a news conference Tuesday he also addressed Donald Trump’s election to succeed him in January.
On his final overseas swing as President, Obama is expecting urgent questions from his counterparts about Trump’s victory and his plans for the US going forward. Obama has attempted to strike a conciliatory tone, insisting Trump remains committed to transatlantic ties and NATO, despite the Republican businessman’s statements during the campaign.
He lent symbolism to his commitment to democratic ideals Wednesday when he climbed the Acropolis in central Athens and toured the Parthenon, the 2,500-year-old temple built by ancient Greeks dedicated to the goddess Athena. He also toured the museum constructed near to site that houses antiquities from the era.
The previous day, Obama advocated for debt relief from Europe and an end to austerity-only measures to help the economy recover, though it’s not clear where Trump will stand on those issues when he assumes office next year.
“I’ve been clear from the beginning of this crisis that in order to make reforms sustainable, the Greek economy needs the space to return to growth and start creating jobs again,” Obama said. “We cannot simply look to austerity as a strategy and it is incredibly important that the Greek people see improvements in their daily lives so that they can carry with them the hope that their lives will get better.”
Speaking alongside Obama, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras linked austerity practices to a wave of isolationism that has swept Europe in the past several years, suggesting restrictive spending policies could lead to an “increasing trend in skepticism and inward-looking, which is a threat to modern democracies.”
“The insistence of European leaders to austerity policies keeps the European economy strapped in stagnation. And it therefore brings about huge political and social problems,” he said.
In his speech Tuesday, Obama is also expected to laud Greece for its role in housing tens of thousands of Syrian refugees who are fleeing the civil war. Many have passed through Greece on their way to Europe, and Obama has called for countries to accept more refugees in an attempt to alleviate the crisis.
Trump, meanwhile, has been sharply critical of Obama’s plans for refugees, insisting he’ll stop Syrian migration into the United States until stricter background checks can be put in place to prevent terrorists from entering the country.