The Greek Current

The Hellenic American Leadership Council
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  • Biweekly

A podcast on Greece, Cyprus and the region brought to you by The Hellenic American Leadership Council and Kathimerini. Hosted by Thanos Davelis.

  1. 3d ago

    Greece leads pushback against Turkey and Libya's farcical maritime "deal"

    “Geography cannot be rewritten … and sovereign rights cannot be erased by drawing arbitrary lines on a map.” Those were Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis words at the UN Security Council this week, as he held up a map showing Turkey and Libya’s “illegal” and “arbitrary” maritime deal. This agreement is back in the headlines these days after Libya’s House of Representatives dropped its longstanding opposition to the deal and ratified it on October 20th. The international response was swift, with Greece, the EU, Cyprus, Israel, Egypt, Bahrain, and the UAE all condemning it. Even the State Department, which originally offered a weak and ambiguous response, altered its stance and reaffirmed its original 2019 position that the deal was “unhelpful” and “provocative.” While diplomatic pressure is unlikely to force Turkey to the table, Greece is making moves as reports indicate it is preparing to sit down with Egypt to discuss extending their Exclusive Economic ‌Zone eastwards towards Cyprus. This is potentially another blow to Turkey’s Blue Homeland, as Ankara was hoping to entice Egypt into signing a separate maritime boundary agreement at the expense of Greece and Cyprus. These developments are taking place as the US is distracted by Iran, by the upcoming midterms, and by the war in Ukraine. President Trump’s moves this month, especially vis-a-vis Ukraine and Russia, turned many heads in Washington and in Europe, and his decision to exempt Russia from new sanctions passed by Congress and cut a deal to purchase Russian diesel left many wondering what this means for American energy policy, and whether the US can lead through a transactional foreign policy. John Psaropoulos, Amberin Zaman, and Max Bergmann join me this week as we break down all of these issues. A little more info on our guests: John Psaropoulos is an independent journalist, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in southeast Europe, and publisher of Hellenica on Substack. Amberin Zaman is Al-Monitor's chief correspondent who covers major stories on the Middle East and North Africa. Max Bergmann is 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. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

  2. Oct 24

    Is France the "new Greece" of Europe? Protests, rising debt, and the lessons from Greece's crisis

    A weekend of widespread protests and riots in France has put the spotlight on the many challenges facing the country, from political paralysis to a looming debt crisis. Some pundits and observers are even asking if France, the Eurozone’s second largest economy, is the new Greece of Europe, an ode to Greece’s debt crisis in the 2010s.  While this comparison misses the mark in many ways, Europe is on alert as France’s debt costs hit 25-year highs recently. Throw in social unrest, a 2027 presidential race with far-right and far-left candidates leading in the polls, and a tense geopolitical environment, and it’s no secret why anxiety is building in Europe’s capitals - including Athens - as it seems what happens in France doesn’t necessarily stay in France. For Europe, this has become an autumn of protest, as the continent’s youth took to the streets in France, Italy, Albania, Spain and Portugal demanding a response to the cost of living crisis, investments in education, solutions on housing, and plans to tackle unemployment. As Europe’s youth look for answers to these problems, they are also increasingly up against the continent’s demographics. In an ageing continent, where the youth vote is shrinking, is the political will there to address their concerns? Steven Erlanger, Yannis Palaiologos, and Tim Vlandas join Thanos Davelis this week as we look at the unrest in France, the protests in Europe, and break down whether France is turning into the new Greece. A little more info on our guests: Steven Erlangler is the chief diplomatic correspondent for The New York Times covering Europe. Yannis Palaiologos is a journalist at large with Kathimerini and Inside Story Tim Vlandas is a Professor of Comparative Political Economy and Social Policy at Oxford. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

  3. Oct 17

    Conflict in the Horn of Africa, the Turkey factor, and why it matters for Greece

    This week we’re turning our attention to the Horn of Africa, where a long-simmering conflict in Ethiopia recently exploded into open war. The situation is grim, but it’s not limited to Africa’s second most populous nation. Eritrea has been pulled into the conflict, Sudan’s civil war is right next door, and on the other side of the Red Sea the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen continue to strike the Saudis. Making an already complicated situation even worse, a number of regional powers, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, and Israel are all vying for influence in the region, linking the Horn of Africa with the wider Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean. We’ve already seen rivalries between these countries manifest in proxy struggles. One rivalry to watch is between Israel and Turkey. We’ve seen Turkey invest heavily in the region, especially in Somalia, where Turkey has deployed F-16s and advanced drones, and trains Somali troops at Camp TUKRSOM, its largest overseas military base. Meanwhile, Somaliland – which broke away from Somalia and is only recognised by Israel – is urgently seeking Israeli military support. Turkey’s actions aren’t limited to Somalia. Turkey’s rapid expansion in Africa is part of a highly calculated, decades-long multi-pronged approach that has seen it strike up bilateral relationships with scores of African states with deals ranging from educational programs to natural resources, military assistance, and arms sales. As the Horn of Africa draws in regional powers, the question that arises is what does this mean for Greece? So far, Greece has stationed Patriot missiles in Saudi Arabia, defending it against threats that include the Houthis, and is playing an active role in the Red Sea through the EU’s naval mission ASPIDES to protect international shipping. Given how developments in the region are increasingly part of a wider arc of conflict spanning from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Horn of Africa, this is a region Greece can not afford to ignore. Ambassador Michelle Gavin, Sinan Ciddi, and Professor Asteris Huliaras join Thanos Davelis this week as we look at the conflicts in the Horn of Africa, and break down why they matter for Greece. A little more info on our guests: Ambassador Michelle Gavin is the Ralph Bunche senior fellow for Africa policy studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Sinan Ciddi is a senior fellow at FDD and director of its Turkey program. Asteris Huliaras is a professor of comparative politics and international relations at the University of the Peloponnese where he holds a Jean Monnet Chair on EU Relations with Less Developed Countries. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

  4. Oct 10

    Secretary Rubio visits Greece, the Strategic Dialogue, and the region's Turkey dilemma

    Athens was buzzing this week as Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Greece. His speech with the Acropolis in the background made headlines around the world, and his emphasis on Greece’s role as “a source of stability in an unstable world" and a “model ally” did not go unnoticed.  Beyond Rubio’s comments, his visit coincided with the 6th US-Greece Strategic Dialogue, reflecting the excellent level of relations between the two countries and their commitment to deepening their already close ties and promoting regional stability. As discussions unfolded, defense and energy took center stage.  On security and defense, highlights included a $4 billion agreement for advanced US military equipment, establishing links between the Greek armed forces and the Florida National Guard, and expanding law enforcement and counterterrorism cooperation.  On energy, the Vertical Gas Corridor and the Great Sea Interconnector, particularly the latter, dominated the news cycle. In an interview with Kathimerini, Secretary Rubio stated that the GSI, which is set to link the electricity grids of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, and which Turkey is keen to disrupt, was an “important priority” for the US. Rubio also addressed important questions related to Turkey, stating that he believed a Greek-Turkish crisis would be “unimaginable” and something the US could “never allow to happen.” He also made it clear that any sale of F-35s to Turkey was off the table until the strict conditions laid out under US law are met. Turkey’s behavior is a particular concern for countries in the region and Turkey observers, as President Erdogan adopts an increasingly revisionist posture across the Eastern Mediterranean, from Syria and the Horn of Africa to the Aegean. Elena Lazarou, Endy Zemenides, Vassilis Nedos, Sinan Ciddi, and Tyler Stapleton join Thanos Davelis this week as we dig into the Rubio visit and the challenge Turkey poses to the region. A little more info on our guests: Elena Lazarou is the Director General of ELIAMEP. Endy Zemenides is the Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council Vassilis Nedos is Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor. Sinan Ciddi is a senior fellow at FDD and director of its Turkey program. Tyler Stapleton is the senior director of government relations at FDD Action. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

  5. Oct 3

    Russia's hybrid war and Europe's far right turn

    On August 4, a drone struck the wing of a Ukrainian aircraft at Germany’s Leipzig Airport and fell onto the tarmac. It failed to explode. Two more drones were also found nearby over the next few days.  All the evidence has pointed to Russia as the main culprit, with German officials highlighting how the Leipzig airport attack followed a “well-established pattern of Russian hybrid operations in Europe.” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, also said the alliance "stands in full solidarity with Germany", adding that “The evidence is clear.” This incident has put a renewed focus on Russia’s escalating hybrid campaign against Europe, and raises questions about how policymakers across the continent can and should respond. While Russia targets Europe, we’ve seen a number of far-right parties - that seem to share President Vladimir Putin’s “anti-woke” views and have called for curtailing military and financial aid to Ukraine and rapprochement with Russia - make gains in key countries like Germany and France. As these parties gain momentum, what will this mean for Europe’s Russia policy? The upsurge in support for far right parties in Europe’s key states is also raising concerns in Greece, which is preparing for national elections in the spring. Could it happen here as well? While the far-right is fragmented, previous election results suggest there is an electoral base. The release of Ilias Kasidiaris from prison, a former leading figure of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, and his announcement that he intends to re-enter politics, is also adding a new dimension to the debate about the prospects of a far-right revival. Alexander Gabuev, Dimitar Bechev, and Lamprini Rori join Thanos Davelis this week as we take a closer look at these developments.  A little more info on our guests: Alexander Gabuev is the director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. Dimitar Bechev is a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe and director of the Dahrendorf Programme on Europe in a Changing World at the European Studies Centre of the University of Oxford's St Antony's College. Lambrini Rori is an Associate Professor in Political Analysis at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

  6. Sep 26

    Greece lures hedge funds and rebuilds market trust while NATO looks to put Greenland saga behind it

    At the height of the last decade’s financial crisis, Greece was not only struggling to keep capital in the country, but its borrowing cost was also sky high.  Today, Greece is wooing the world’s leading hedge funds with a new tax regime designed to lure investors to establish substantial operations in Athens, and we’ve already seen it persuade billionaire Chris Rokos and the hedge fund Millennium Management to establish a presence in the country. At the same time, Prime Minister Mitsotakis highlighted Greece's economic success and its progress on the fiscal front this week in meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York, emphasizing that Greece’s borrowing costs are now lower than those of four G7 countries - the US, the UK, France, and Italy.  This news comes at a tense time in global markets, as government bond prices fall worldwide, and yields rise accordingly. Moving us to global developments, President Trump used the UNGA as an opportunity to once again lay out a “winner takes all” vision of US power, while sealing a deal over Greenland that potentially removes one of the biggest thorns in the transatlantic relationship.  As the US and its allies look to put the Greenland issue behind them, a great deal of uncertainty remains between Washington and its NATO partners, and this was on full display recently as EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for Canada and the EU to move beyond their existing free trade agreement and create an “Alliance for the Future.” Charles Kupchan, Eleni Varvitsioti, and Dimitris Vayanos join Thanos Davelis this week as we take a closer look at all of these developments.  A little more info on our guests: Charles Kupchan is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and professor of international affairs at Georgetown University in the Walsh School of Foreign Service and Department of Government. Eleni Varvitsioti is the Financial Times correspondent for Greece and Cyprus. Dimitris Vayanos is a Professor of Finance at the London School of Economics, co-editor of the book "Beyond Austerity: Reforming the Greek Economy”, and member of the Pissarides Commission which developed a growth plan for Greece in 2020. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

  7. Sep 19

    The Houthis and the Red Sea crisis, Turkish threats in the Aegean, and political turmoil in Serbia

    This week we’re traveling around the region, moving from the Red Sea to the Balkans. While the Iran war has disrupted energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s attention shifted to another major global chokepoint at the mouth of the Red Sea this past week, the Bab-el Mandeb Strait, as Iran-backed Houthi rebels tighten their grip over this strategic maritime route and threaten Saudi Arabia's oil exports. With the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab-el Mandeb Strait under threat, the world is bracing for a potential squeeze on oil prices, while the US appears to be sitting this one out, so far declining to intervene on Saudi Arabia’s behalf. The Houthi attacks are also the first test for the new Mecca Agreement, the defense pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan.  While all eyes are on the Red Sea, tensions have been quietly brewing in the Aegean, where Turkey is once again  ramping up its provocations. We’ve seen Turkey engage in new airspace violations, provoke with the announcement of controversial marine parks, slam Greece’s recent defense deal with Israel as an attempt to “encircle” Turkey, and this week Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan absurdly called Greece’s defense of its Aegean islands a “threat”. Looking to Greece’s north, the Western Balkans are coming under the spotlight again after Serbia’s President Alexandar Vucic, who has been in power as ‌president or prime minister for 12 years, dissolved parliament and called for snap elections in October. Serbia has been rocked by student-led protests and political turmoil over the last two years, and demands for accountability and change are widespread.  This is also raising questions about the EU’s commitment to fully integrate the Western Balkans, an effort that has lost momentum over the past years. Could this be an opportunity to use its leverage to promote reform and the resolution of bilateral issues? Some experts think it may be. Aaron David Miller, Constantinos Filis, and James Ker-Lindsay join Thanos Davelis this week as we look into all of these developments, exploring what they mean for Greece and the wider region. A little more info on our guests: Aaron David Miller is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and expert on the Middle East. Constantinos Filis is an associate professor at the American College of Greece and director of its Institute of Global Affairs. Professor James Ker-Lindsay is an expert on the EU, the Balkans, and Southeast Europe. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

  8. Sep 12

    Mitsotakis sets the stage for 2027, Europe's far-right dilemma, and a message of stability from Greece, Cyprus and Egypt

    Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stepped up to the podium at the Thessaloniki International Fair last Saturday to lay out his government’s economic agenda for the upcoming year in a speech that essentially set the stage for national elections in 2027. Aside from presenting a 2.2-billion-euro package for next year, he also laid out a roadmap to 2030 that includes reducing unemployment, raising the average salary and the minimum wage, and maintaining economic growth, all while drawing a clear line in the sand when it comes to the political and geopolitical dilemmas he believes will shape the upcoming election. With Greece gearing up for elections, Europe’s eyes locked in on Germany, where the Alternative for Germany, or AfD, dominated a crucial state election on Sunday, marking the first time since 1949 that a far-right party has won a state election. The result has many wondering if Germany's political center can still isolate the far right, while broader questions are emerging about what this could mean for Europe. Is this a harbinger of further far-right victories on a continent that’s facing a number of challenges ranging from the war in Ukraine to the economy and inflation? Shifting us back to the Eastern Mediterranean, having wrapped up his speech at TIF, Prime Minister Mitsotakis traveled to Egypt, where he met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, sending a strong message not only about the state of Greek-Egyptian ties, but also about the three countries’ commitment to regional cooperation. The meetings took place against the backdrop of broader regional developments, including the Mecca Agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. Nick Malkoutzis, Yiannis Mouzakis, Dr. Markus Ziener, and Vassilis Nedos join Thanos Davelis on this week’s episode of The Greek Current with insights on all of these developments. A little more info on our guests: Nick Malkoutzis and Yiannis Mouzakis are the co-founders of Macropolis.gr. Dr. Markus Ziener is a professor of journalism and Visiting Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund. Vassilis Nedos is Kathimeirni’s diplomatic and defense editor. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

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About

A podcast on Greece, Cyprus and the region brought to you by The Hellenic American Leadership Council and Kathimerini. Hosted by Thanos Davelis.

Information

  • Creator
    The Hellenic American Leadership Council
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    600
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    The Greek Current

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