The Greek Current

While everyone’s attention has been on the Middle East over the past weeks, I want to turn us to the Black Sea. The Black Sea is not just critical to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine, but it is a key part of the wider standoff between Moscow and the West, raising questions about European security and drawing in other powers as well like Turkey and the US. Dimitar Bechev, a senior fellow with Carnegie Europe, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at why the Black Sea is increasingly on the West and Euro...

A scandal involving EU funds and farm subsidies has rocked the Greek government and is the lead story coming out of Greece. Over the weekend we saw the resignation of a few ministers, including migration minister and former agriculture minister Makis Voridis, and we’ve seen Prime Minister Mitsotakis acknowledge the government’s failure while announcing steps to address the issue. Nektaria Stamouli, the deputy editor in chief of Kathimerini's English Edition and Politico's Eastern Mediterranean correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis to look into this story.

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

Gr...

We’re turning to Turkey today, where Turkish markets rallied on Monday after a Turkish court adjourned a case that could force the removal of the main opposition party's leader. Despite this decision, there is still rising political uncertainty in the country as Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu remains imprisoned, and questions remain about the direction Turkey’s economy is heading. Wolfango Piccoli, the co-founder of risk analysis company Teneo, joins Thanos Davelis as we dig into these developments.

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

Turkish Markets Rally After Key Opposition Case...

Since President Trump stepped back into the Oval Office, Greece has been on the lookout for the arrival of a new US ambassador. While nominee Kimberly Guilfoyle has yet to go through her Senate hearing, the US ambassador in Ankara, Tom Barrack, seems to be charting a new course for US-Turkey ties. Tom Ellis, the editor in chief of Kathimerini’s English Edition, joins Thanos Davelis as we break down why the US can not afford to be under-represented in Southeast Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

Today we’re turning to Greece’s south, and looking at developments in Libya which are increasingly moving onto Athens’ radar. Greece is closely monitoring recent energy agreements between Libya’s Tripoli-based government and Turkey, and is moving ships south of Crete amid a new surge in migrants crossing the Mediterranean from Libya and heading to Greece. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at Libya, and break down what recent developments there could mean for Athens.

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited Turkey late last week for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the first formal meeting of its kind and a move Yerevan described as a "historic" step. Despite previous efforts - and a slew of concessions by Pashinyan to both Azerbaijan and Turkey over the past years - there has been little tangible progress in normalizing relations. Dr. Laurence Broers, an associate fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at Chatham House and an expert on the South Caucasus region, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at this normalization...

A few days ago the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, Syria, was bombed in a terrorist attack that left dozens of people dead. The attack has left Syria’s Christians struggling to understand why their community was targeted, and wondering if they can rely on the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa for safety. Nadine Maenza joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at what this deadly attack means for Syria’s Christians and minorities.

Nadine Maenza is the President of the IRF Secretariat, an international organization focused on building infrastructure to support the reli...

We’re turning our attention to the Hague today, where NATO leaders are gathering this week for a two day summit. While European allies - keen to avoid clashing with President Trump - already agreed to Washington’s demands that they increase defense spending, key questions loom over Ukraine, the Middle East, and the future of the transatlantic alliance. Ian Lesser, the vice president and Brussels chief of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into what’s at stake at this summit.

You can read the articles we discuss on our...

Turkey’s latest move to submit a new so-called maritime spatial plan to UNESCO laying claim to half of the Aegean Sea is once again putting the spotlight on its revisionist Blue Homeland doctrine, and raising questions about its commitment to maintaining calm in the region. Constantinos Filis, the director of the Institute of Global Affairs and a professor of international relations at the American College of Greece, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at this development, breaking down what it means for Greece and the sense of calm that has prevailed over the past few ye...

Over the past decades we’ve heard a lot about the potential impacts of climate change, from rising temperatures to wildfires and droughts. Greece is on the frontline of many of these shifts. Today we’re taking a closer look at how climate change will impact Greece’s economy. Nikos Vettas, the General Director of the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research and a Professor of Economics at the Athens University of Economics and Business, joins Thanos Davelis as we break down the challenges and opportunities for Greece’s economy.

You can read the articles we discuss on our p...

Earlier this week Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis essentially launched his pre-election campaign, unveiling a roadmap to the 2027 elections. As Mitsotakis prepares for 2027, we’re also seeing former prime minister Alexis Tsipras take steps that are fueling speculation about a political comeback, while the far-right is back in the headlines. Lamprini Rori, an Assistant Professor in Political Analysis at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at these developments.

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

Mitsotakis outlines four key priorities ahead of 2027 el...

The G7 leaders just met in Canada where the focus quickly turned to geopolitics, primarily the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, which saw President Trump leave the summit early and return to Washington as conflict escalated between Israel and Iran. At the same time, trade remains a key concern among the G7 nations, as tariffs loom on the horizon. Matthew Goodman, the director of the Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Thanos Davelis as we dig into the latest G7 summit and the broader questions still at hand about the ongoing...

Kathimerini just ran a piece highlighting the efforts of teachers and community schools in keeping Greek education alive in Turkey. These schools are central to the Greek community in Istanbul, a community that once had a significant presence but has dwindled to roughly 2,000 individuals over the last century as a result of government policies, persecution, and a pogrom in the 1950s. Dr. Ilay Romain Ors, a social anthropologist whose work has largely focused on the Greek Orthodox community of Istanbul, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at this historic community and the challenges it faces today.<...

Since arriving in Ankara, US ambassador Tom Barrack has been thrown into the spotlight. Aside from his active role in Syria, reports indicate he is laying the groundwork for an Erdogan visit to Washington. If we take a closer look, however, the argument could also be made that he is seemingly promoting a number of Turkish positions across the board - from selling Turkey F-35s to presenting Turkey as an indispensable actor for regional stability. Now Israel’s strike on Iran could throw many of these calculations up in the air. The FDD’s Sinan Ciddi and Tyler Stap...

Last year Greece’s two biggest teams achieved big triumphs at the European level, with Panathinaikos winning the Euroleague in basketball, and Olympiakos winning the Conference League in soccer. While this year didn’t deliver any major silverware, we stll saw important runs for both teams. At the same time, the Greek national team in soccer has many fans excited for what lies ahead as it sets out to qualify for next year’s World Cup. Prof. Alex Kitroeff, a professor of history who also studies and writes extensively about Greek sports, joins Thanos Davelis as we look back at ano...

We’re almost at the halfway point of Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ second term. Despite a few political storms over the past years, New Democracy, the prime minister’s party, is riding out a wave of dissatisfaction among voters, holding steady at about 30 percent. At the same time, a rudderless and divided opposition can’t seem to translate this into votes. Nektaria Stamouli, the deputy editor in chief of Kathimerini's English Edition and Politico's Eastern Mediterranean correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a deeper dive into Greece’s current political landscape, from the ruling party to the fragmented opposition. 

You ca...

Despite pressure from the Trump administration for a peace deal or a ceasefire in Ukraine, Russia appears to be stepping up its attacks, launching almost 500 drones and missiles at Ukraine earlier this week. With President Trump keen on bringing this war to an end, or washing his hands of what he views as a European issue, Europe is debating how to build up their defense capabilities and support Ukraine. Professor Lawrence Freedman joins Thanos Davelis as we break down whether Europe is in a position to support Ukraine without Washington, and look into the broader lessons from the war...

Kathimerini featured a story recently on the Cyclades, specifically sounding the alarm over what some are calling the “Disneyfication” of the islands amid unchecked tourism and construction. This is an issue that has been at the forefront of discussions over the past years when talking about striking a balance between sustainability and tourism in Greece, and the Sustainable Cyclades project has been a key part of this debate. Yannis Palaiologos, a journalist at large with Kathimerini and the co-editor of the Sustainable Cyclades project, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into this issue just as the tourism season kicks off...

At the 9th Our Ocean Conference in Athens last year, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that Greece would create two marine parks that would raise the extent of Greece’s marine protected areas to 30 percent. Last year’s announcement also led to objections from Turkey, adding a geopolitical angle to this discussion. Now, reports indicate Greece is about to pass legislation to make this a reality. John Psaropoulos joins Thanos Davelis as we break down what this could mean for Greece’s delicate marine areas, while looking at how Turkey’s objections are complicating this story.

You can read...

As Europe faces increasing pressure over access to fresh water, the problem has become particularly acute in Greece. Reports indicate that Athens and the Attica region will face a water crisis in the coming years under current climate conditions, while the spotlight is increasingly on how to preserve and manage water resources across the country. In addition, this challenge has taken on a European dimension, as the continent grapples with similar questions and the EU unveils a new water resilience strategy. Giorgos Lialios, a journalist at Kathimerini covering issues related to the environment, joins Thanos Davelis as we dig...

Reports that Eastern Libya's parliament is considering endorsing the 2019 maritime agreement between Turkey and the Tripoli-based government in Libya that attempted to split the eastern Mediterranean between the two - and at the expense of neighboring countries - is sounding the alarm in Greece and Egypt. Sean Mathews, a journalist for the Middle East Eye covering the Middle East, North Africa and the Balkans, joins Thanos Davelis as we look at why the Turkey-Libya deal is back in the headlines, and examine what a decision to endorse it in eastern Libya would mean for Greece, Egypt, and the East...

Last week a $7 billion energy deal involving the United States, Turkey and Qatar, was signed in Damascus, a move designed to revive Syria's crippled power sector. The move raises questions about Qatar and Turkey’s role in post-Assad Syria and about the Trump administration’s Syria policy. The move also comes as Turkey’s President Erdogan is continuing his crackdown on opposition voices. Henri Barkey, a Professor of International Relations at Lehigh University and an Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Thanos Davelis as we dig into Washington’s green-lighting of Turkey a...

From the “Vertical Gas Corridor” to projects in the Eastern Mediterranean, Greece is stepping up its efforts on the energy front. This is placing it at the heart of exciting new developments that will link the East Med with Central Europe and even Ukraine, while drawing the attention of US energy giants like Exxon Mobil and Chevron. Tom Ellis, the editor in chief of Kathimerini’s English Edition, joins Thanos Davelis as we break down some of the latest developments on the energy front, and look at what they mean for Greece and its partners in the region.

You...

A recent court ruling in Egypt has sounded alarm bells in Athens and around the world as it seems to put the status of St. Catherine’s monastery in Sinai, a UNESCO world heritage site, at risk. This has prompted reactions at the highest levels, with Prime Minister Mitsotakis speaking with his Egyptian counterpart and emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the monastery’s status as a Greek Orthodox place of pilgrimage. Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou joins Thanos Davelis as we break down what’s at stake for St. Catherine’s monastery and why it matters as we look at the broader...

The US and the EU seem to have agreed to speed up trade talks after President Trump issued and then postponed a 50 percent tariff threat. While many European leaders welcomed this move, it’s still unclear whether Washington and Brussels can bridge the divide between them. Max Bergmann, the director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and the Stuart Center in Euro-Atlantic and Northern European Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins Thanos Davelis as we explore whether a trade deal between the EU and the US is in the cards, and look into the de...

This week Turkey’s President Erdogan said he was putting together a team to draft a new constitution, a move that comes in the wake of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s arrest. Many critics see this push for a new constitution as a power play designed to allow Erdogan to remain in power beyond 2028, when his current term ends. Sinan Ciddi, a non-resident senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and an expert on Turkish politics, joins Thanos Davelis to look into what’s at stake for Turkish democracy and why it matters for the US and Europe...

Reports indicate that President Trump and members of his administration are looking for ways to circumvent or lift CAATSA sanctions and put arms sales, particularly of F-35 jets, back on the table with Turkey. They are coming up against a challenge that is significantly more complex than simply waiving sanctions. Lena Argiri, the DC correspondent for ERT - the Greek Public Broadcasting Company - and Kathimerini, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into why CAATSA may not be the real obstacle standing in the way of Turkey and the F-35s.

You can read the articles we...

There’s a new bipartisan bill - the Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act - that’s once again putting the spotlight on Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and their potential roles in IMEC, a project increasingly seen as the answer to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Endy Zemenides, the Executive Director of HALC, joins Thanos Davelis to break down why this new legislation matters, look at how the East Med can play a unique role as the West turns toward addressing the challenges posed by China, and explore how Greece and Cyprus fit into this story.

You can read the ar...

This week EU ambassadors agreed on a €150 billion defense lending scheme, Security Action For Europe, or SAFE. EU officials are calling this "an important step toward a stronger Europe." In a move that has raised eyebrows in Athens and Nicosia, the agreement allows for limited participation by third countries – including Turkey. Following the announcement, Prime Minister Mitsotakis called on Turkey to lift its 30 year threat of war against Greece if it wants access to EU defense funds. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis with the latest analysis.

You can read the articles we dis...

Since before President Trump’s return to office, the focus in the US has been on China. As the Trump administration turns up the pressure on Beijing, this is also putting the spotlight on vital infrastructure - from the Panama canal to China’s Belt and Road initiative. This has the potential to impact Greece as well, given its close ties to the US, the investment China’s Cosco made in the port of Piraeus in the depths of the financial crisis, and its potential role in the IMEC corridor. Alexis Papachelas, the editor in chief of Kathimerini, joins Thanos...

The conflict between Pakistan and India has put Turkey’s arms industry in the spotlight, exposing the limits of its much lauded drones and raising questions about whether Turkey’s arms industry is a loser in this latest round of conflict. Michael Rubin, the director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into the Turkey angle to the Pakistan-India conflict, and dig into what developments on the ground tell us about Ankara’s arms industry and Erdogan’s ambitions to position Turkey as a milita...

A recent map published by the EU’s Copernicus program is sounding the alarm ahead of wildfire season showing drought conditions and risk assessments across Europe. This is particularly alarming for southern European countries like Greece, which has seen devastating wildfires in recent years. Nikos Efstathiou, an independent journalist who is studying wildfires and how the media reports on them at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism in Oxford, joins Thanos Davelis as we break down the latest data, the lessons learned from previous wildfires in Greece, and explore why the way we cover wildfires in the me...

A decision earlier this year by authorities in the occupied northern part of Cyprus to allow headscarves in schools has led to mass protests against what many see as President Erdogan’s increasing authoritarianism and a creeping Islamification from Ankara. The protests also touch on broader issues, with Turkish Cypriots expressing concerns about money laundering, crime, and a wider Russian and Iranian presence. Nektaria Stamouli, the deputy editor in chief of Kathimerini's English Edition and Politico's Eastern Mediterranean correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis to break down this protest movement and look at what it says about where Turkish Cypriots stand vi...

Albania’s long-time Prime Minister Edi Rama secured an unprecedented fourth consecutive term in Sunday's election, winning a comfortable majority. This win came on the back of a wave of pro-EU sentiment among voters, as Rama made securing EU membership for Albania a key part of his campaign. Rama was also bolstered by a strong network he has built up over 12 years in power. John Psaropoulos joins Thanos Davelis as we look into Albania’s election, its EU ambitions, and what the re-election of Rama means for Greek-Albanian relations.

John Psaropoulos is an independent journalist and Al Jaze...

In a move that took many by surprise, President Trump announced this week that the United States will lift long-standing sanctions on Syria. The decision represents a sea change for Syrians, as UN figures estimate that nine out of ten Syrians live in poverty. This move was also something countries like Saudi Arabia and Turkey had been calling for, with Turkish President Erdogan reportedly raising the issue in calls with President Trump. Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Thanos Davelis with the latest analysis.<...

On Monday the Kurdistan Workers’ party, or the PKK, made a historic announcement that it would disband, ending its four-decade-long armed campaign against the Turkish state. The move comes amid a new push to end this conflict, which has claimed more than 40,000 lives and spilled over into Syria and Iraq. Alan Makovsky, a senior fellow for the Center for American Progress and a former senior staffer with responsibility for Turkey on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, joins Thanos Davelis as we break down whether this really marks a turning point for Turkey and the Kurds’ struggle for political and cult...

Since President Trump stepped back into office, and amid escalating competition with China, it looks like one project we’ve been hearing more and more about is the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor - or IMEC. This is reflected in comments from President Trump, in diplomatic moves we’re seeing in the wider region from Greece to India, and most recently in Congress, where a new legislative initiative is looking to establish the East Med as a strategic hub within the framework of IMEC. George Dikaios, who has been tracking developments related to IMEC, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into...

From a recent decision in a German court that could pave the way for migrants to be deported back to Greece to a labor shortage ahead of the critical tourism season, migration issues look to be back on the table. This is also the case at the European level, where the EU has gotten tougher on deportations over the past months amid wider concerns about the populist far-right. Angeliki Dimitriadi, an independent researcher and expert on migration, joins Thanos Davelis as we break down how these developments impact Greece.

You can read the articles we discuss on...

Friedrich Merz officially became Chancellor of Germany this week, but only after two rounds of voting in the Bundestag - a first for a new chancellor in postwar German history. His initial failure to clinch the position raises concerns about his leadership, and has Europeans asking whether Germany under Merz can step back into its traditional European leadership role. Katja Hoyer, a historian, journalist and author of Beyond the Wall: A History of East Germany, joins Thanos Davelis as we break down whether Merz is emerging weakened out of the gate, and look into what this means for Europe.<...

Since the pandemic we’ve seen the Greek government step in to tackle low wages, raising the minimum wage from €650 in 2019 to the latest announcement in early April bringing the gross wage up to €880. These steps come amid both a cost of living crisis and a labor shortage ahead of the summer in the tourism industry, but also other key sectors like agriculture and construction. Yannis Mouzakis, the co-founder and editor of Macropolis.gr, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into the story of Greek wages, breaking down why this remains a big challenge for the government.

You ca...