The Greek Current

The Hellenic American Leadership Council
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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

    From NATO to "Clash Report": Transatlantic tensions and Turkey's global media operation

    President Donald Trump’s recent announcement that the US would pull five thousand troops from Germany took allies by surprise. The latest comments, which came in the wake of European criticism of the Iran war, were followed by a threat to impose a 25 percent tariff on automobiles and auto parts from Europe, as the US President claimed on social media that Europe was not living up to its end of a trade agreement struck last summer.  The two moves have experts and analysts wondering if this will further weaken the credibility of US deterrence in Europe, while at the same time bracing for the prospect of a renewed transatlantic trade war. Keeping one eye on the simmering tensions between the White House and the EU, we’re also turning our attention this week to a report that has gone viral recently. For those following international politics on platforms like X - formerly Twitter - they’re sure to have come across a page called “Clash Report”, which was also quick to post about the latest developments in the transatlantic relationship. What most people don’t know, however, is that Clash Report is the English-language arm of a Turkish media operation with close ties to the Erdogan family. These connections were unmasked this past weekend. Thanos Davelis dig into all of these developments with Max Bergmann, Maria Demertzis, and Eitan Fischberger as we break down what message the withdrawal of US troops from Europe sends, whether we should prepare for another US-EU trade war, and look at who is behind Clash Report and why it matters.  Moving to our I am HALC segment, we’re putting the spotlight on one of HALC’s earliest members, Stathis Theodoropoulos. Stathis is a successful entrepreneur and owner of Firefly Lighting, but beyond this entrepreneurial side, Stathis is also a dedicated advocate for his local community. Aside from his commitment to Hellenic causes, he serves as a councilman in Kearny, New Jersey, where he’s at the frontlines of making sure local government works for the communities it’s designed to serve.  A little more info on our guests: 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. Maria Demertzis, a Professor of Economic Policy at the European University Institute. Eitan Fischberger is a journalist and Open Source Intelligence Investigator. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

    1h 2m

  2. MAY 2

    Cyprus and the future of Europe

    Last week Cyprus was at the heart of EU developments. For two days it hosted leaders from the EU, from the Middle East, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Topics ranged from critical security issues and the war in Iran, to Europe’s engagement with the broader Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. On the security front, Cyprus is keen to make the EU’s Article 42.7, a mutual defense clause similar to NATO’s Article 5, work in practice. There is a new sense of urgency around this issue after Cyprus was targeted by drones amid the fallout of the Iran war, and as a result of questions about Washington’s commitments to NATO and European security. Konstantinos Letymbiotis, Ian Lesser, and Alexis Papachelas join Thanos Davelis this week as we break down the key takeaways from the EU leaders summit in Cyprus, including the debate around Article 42.7. In addition, we discuss French President Emanuel Macron’s visit to Cyprus and Greece, a visit that raised important questions about Europe’s future and its geopolitical role.  Taking us to our I am HALC segment, we’re highlighting Judge Tom Sianis, a longtime member of HALC with a lifetime commitment to public service and justice. Elected to serve as a Cook County Circuit Court Judge in 2018, Judge Sianis is currently Presiding Judge of the First Municipal District. Throughout his career Tom has been a shining example of Hellenism in public service, from when his career took off at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office to his election to the bench. A little more info on our guests: Konstantinos Letymbiotis is the government spokesperson of the Republic of Cyprus. Ian Lesser is the vice president and Brussels chief of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Alexis Papachelas is the Executive Editor of Kathimerini. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

    1h 4m

  3. APR 26

    Turkey–Israel tensions, Tom Barrack's Middle East agenda, and what it means for Greece

    Over the past weeks those watching the Eastern Mediterranean can’t help but notice that tensions are heating up between Turkey and Israel as Erdogan’s escalatory posture has some wondering what the wider risks are should this current war of words take on new dimensions. Questions range from what this will mean for US efforts to manage an already tense Middle East, to how this will impact Greece, which has developed close ties with Israel over the past decade and a half? Deciding that he needed to chime in, we heard some headscratching remarks from US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where he dismissed these tensions as “rhetoric”, and added that “Turkey is not a country to be messed with.” These comments drew the criticism of many, including The Wall Street Journal, which accused Ambassador Barrack of undermining US policy and interests. Sinan Ciddi, Henri Barkey, and Vassilis Nedos join Thanos Davelis as we look into this escalating war of words in the Eastern Mediterranean between Turkey and Israel, break down how US Ambassador Tom Barrack is effectively pursuing his own Middle East policy that’s undermining US interests, and discuss the wider impact of these developments for Greece.  This week we’re also putting the spotlight on a founding member of HALC, Bill Matsikoudis, in our latest “I am HALC” segment. A successful attorney and founding partner of Matsikoudis & Fanciullo, Bill’s career has also seen him work in the Administration of New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey, for Jersey City where he made headlines suing Fortune 500 companies guilty of polluting, and on Governor Mikie Sherrill’s transition team for housing. A little more info on our guests: Sinan Ciddi is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and director of its Turkey program. Henri Barkey is an adjunct senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and Emeritus Cohen chair in international relations at Lehigh University.  Vassilis Nedos is Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

    1h 7m

  4. APR 17

    A turning point for Europe? Hungary's election and the end of the Orban era

    All of Europe’s eyes were on Hungary this past weekend, where voters, in a historic election, brought Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's 16 years in power to an end.  Orban’s close relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his blocking of multiple EU initiatives - including an urgently needed €90 billion loan for Ukraine - had frustrated many across Europe. At the same time, he presided over a system that saw his party gradually gain control of much of the judiciary, bureaucracy, media, universities, and the economy, which sounded alarms for those concerned about democratic backsliding.  Beyond Europe, this result was also on the White House’s radar, and Vice President J.D. Vance even traveled to Hungary to campaign for Orban - the European leader with the closest ties to President Trump. Orban’s sweeping defeat raises new questions for European far right populist parties, and its leaders are beginning to question the value of their ties to the MAGA movement. Since our focus is on elections this episode, Greece, which is scheduled to hold national elections in 2027 is also gradually shifting into campaign mode. As parties jostle for a larger share of the electorate, the government looks to be bracing for a number of post-Easter challenges that include rising prices and the ongoing and evolving farm subsidies case. Steven Erlanger, Simon Nixon, Jennifer McCoy, and Nick Malkoutzis join Thanos Davelis as we look at Hungary’s landmark election, breaking down what it means for Europe and for the war in Ukraine, the message it sends to those concerned about democratic backsliding in the West, and what takeaways there are for Greece as the country inches toward national elections next year. A little more info on our guests: Steven Erlanger is the chief diplomatic correspondent for The New York Times covering Europe. Simon Nixon is an independent journalist, Kathimerini columnist, and the publisher of the Wealth of Nations newsletter. Dr. Jennifer McCoy is a Nonresident Scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. She is also Regent’s Professor of Political Science at Georgia State University in Atlanta and a research affiliate at the Democracy Institute of Central European University, Budapest, Hungary. Nick Malkoutzis is the co-founder and editor of Macropolis.gr. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

    55 min

  5. APR 10

    Is NATO's future in doubt, and what does this mean for Greece?

    Recently we marked 77 years since the NATO alliance was founded. Instead of celebrating this milestone, however, President Trump’s comments slamming NATO over its reluctance to help the US secure the Straits of Hormuz, including calling the alliance a “paper tiger” and saying NATO allies were “tested” and they “failed”, have left allies wondering if the future of the alliance is in doubt. Given President Trump’s statements, could a US withdrawal from NATO be in the cards, and what would it mean for the US and for allied countries like Greece?  James Lindsay and Ino Afentouli join Thanos Davelis as we break down why NATO matters in a world of increasing great power rivalry, what’s at stake for the US, and why it’s critical for Greece, Southeastern Europe, and the Eastern Mediterranean. This week we’re also digging into Greek history as Greece recently commemorated the 200th anniversary of the heroic exodus of the Greeks from the besieged city of Messolonghi during the Greek Revolution. We break down this story with Professor Alexander Kitroeff who explains why it was a pivotal moment for the Greek Revolution, how it galvanized philhellenes around the world, and why this story still resonates today. Taking us to our “I am HALC” segment, we’re highlighting one of HALC’s earliest members, Harry Koulos. A distinguished attorney, Harry has been named one of Best Lawyers’ Ones to Watch since 2024. He honed his skills as a clerk in Federal court and at one of the biggest law firms in the US, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, before taking his expertise to Kibler Fowler & Cave, where he currently practices. A distinguished leader, Harry’s passion for the law is equal to his passion for his Hellenic identity and the community. A little more info on our guests: James Lindsay is the Mary and David Boies distinguished senior fellow in U.S. foreign policy at the Council on Foreign Relations. Ino Afentouli is the Senior Policy Advisor and Head of the Observatory of Geopolitics and Diplomacy at ELIAMEP. Alexander Kitroeff is a professor of history with an expertise in Greece and the diaspora. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

    1 hr

  6. APR 3

    Is the future of Christians in the Middle East in doubt?

    This past weekend, with Easter celebrations around the corner, Christians in Syria were once again the target of attacks that have rocked their dwindling community. This was the latest in a string of attacks since the fall of the Assad regime that have targeted members of the country’s Alawite, Druze and Christian communities, and many minorities - indigenous to the region - are asking if there is space for them in the Syria that’s emerging under President al-Sharaa.  This attack also sounded alarms in Athens, and Greece is working to ensure that the protection of Christian populations in the Middle East remains on the international agenda. Aside from Syria, Greece is also concerned about Lebanon, where thousands of Christians have departed in recent years, and has raised the issue of access to the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem during Easter, which made international headlines recently. These are all issues highlighted in the US Commission on International Religious Freedom’s (USCIRF) 2026 report, which also focuses on the troubling religious freedom conditions in another country in the region, Turkey. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, USCIRF is once again reiterating that the US place Turkey on its Special Watch List. Vicky Hartzler, Nadine Maenza, Vassilis Nedos, and Alexia Kalaitzi join Thanos Davelis this week as we look into USCIRF’s 2026 report and Turkey’s problematic record on religious freedom, the plight of Christians in Syria in the wake of another attack on this vulnerable community, and how Greece is working to ensure that the protection of Christian populations in the Middle East remains on the agenda. Taking us to our “I am HALC” segment, this week we’re putting the spotlight on Dean Alonistiotis, a long-time member of HALC with a strong commitment to public service and his Chicago community. Dean’s work has taken him from the city of Chicago, where he served as Director of Economic Development for the City Treasurer's Office, to his current position as Chief of Staff for Illinois State Representative Kim du Buclet. A little more info on our guests: Vicky Hartzler is the Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and a former member of the US House of Representatives. Nadine Maenza is the co-chair of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable and a former chair of USCIRF. Vassilis Nedos is Kathimerini's diplomatic and defense editor. Alexia Kalaitzi is an award-winning journalist and features reporter for Kathimerini. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

    1h 1m

  7. MAR 27

    Greece braces for the economic fallout from the Iran crisis

    Over the past weeks, Greece, like the rest of the world, has one eye on the ongoing war with Iran and is looking to see what this ongoing crisis, which continues to shake markets, will mean for the global economy. For Greece, these concerns include rising prices, the country’s dependence on imported gas and oil, and the possible impact this could have on the tourism sector as a prolonged crisis could affect  the upcoming summer season.  This has prompted Prime Minister Mitsotakis to announce a package of support measures early this week that seeks to address many of these concerns, especially the rising cost of fuel. Nikos Vettas, John Psaropoulos, and Yiannis Tsakalos join Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at how the ongoing crisis in the Middle East is impacting Greece’s overall economic outlook, what steps the government is taking in response to this crisis, and what this could mean for Greece’s tourism sector as tourists factor wider global uncertainty into their travel plans. Taking us to our “I am HALC” segment, this week we’re putting the spotlight on Jonathan Vasdekas. Jon walked through HALC’s doors in 2013, and since then has distinguished himself not only as a leader in the Greek-American community, where he was part of HALC's original class of Leadership 2030 fellows, but as a recognized leader in the energy sector. After stints with major players like Invenergy and Ørsted, where he worked on major renewable energy projects, he now serves as Executive Vice President of Development at Linea Energy.  A little more info on our guests: Nikos Vettas is the general director of Greece’s Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE) and a professor economics and business at Athens University. John Psaropoulos is an independent journalist and Al Jazeera's correspondent in southeast Europe. He publishes Hellenica, a weekly deep dive into Greek current affairs and history that you can find on Substack.com. Yiannis Tsakalos is a professsional with over 30 years of experience in tourism and hospitality. He has worked extensively with hotels and destinations across Greece, and played a key role in shaping tourism strategy at a national level, including contributing to the strategic planning of the Greek National Tourism Organization and the Ministry of Tourism during COVID, helping define the direction of the sector for the years that followed. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

    59 min

  8. MAR 20

    Iran, the global energy crisis, and the case for permanently waiving the Cyprus arms embargo

    With the war in Iran dragging on, its ripple effects are being felt around the world. Beyond the clear questions around regional security, stretching from the Middle East to Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean, we are also in the midst of what could be an unprecedented and escalating global energy crisis as strikes on international shipping in the strait of Hormuz, which is critical to the oil and gas industry, have essentially shut this vital chokepoint. The war is also testing transatlantic unity, as President Trump warned in a recent interview with the Financial Times that “it will be very bad for the future of NATO” if European nations do not join the US in reopening the strait of Hormuz. So far, the message from European leaders is that this isn’t Europe’s war. Despite this message, developments in the Middle East impact Europe, and the case of Cyprus is not only raising questions in Brussels about the EU’s ability to defend its own members, but in Washington as well, where the recent targeting of Cyprus is renewing efforts to permanently end the Cyprus arms embargo. Ian Lesser, Zissis Marmarelis, Damian Murphy, and Endy Zemenides join Thanos Davelis this week as we look into Trump’s calls for Europe to join the US in the Straits of Hormuz, the unfolding global energy crisis and what it means for Greece, and why now is the time to end the Cyprus arms embargo. Taking us to our “I am HALC” segment, we’re highlighting Lexy Prodromos, an emerging leader in the Greek-American community, where she is part of HALC’s class of Leadership 2030 fellows, and a recognized leader when it comes to blockchain technology who is now making waves both in the US and internationally as COO at the Prodromos Stem Cell Institute. A little more info on our guests: Ian Lesser is the vice president and Brussels chief of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Dr. Zissis Marmarelis is a Stavros Niarchos Foundation Academy Fellow at Chatham House with a focus on the geopolitics of energy. Damian Murphy is the senior vice president for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress. Endy Zemenides is HALC's executive director. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

    1h 9m
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4.7
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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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