The Greek Current

About a year into President Trump’s second term, it seems he is on a mission to rewrite the rules of trade, one deal at a time. His Liberation Day tariffs last year rattled markets, and his insistence on using them as a tool to pressure both adversaries and allies has left many - especially in Europe - in disbelief and wondering what’s next. Experts Edward Fishman, Maria Demertzis, Yiannis Mouzakis and Nick Malkoutzis join Thanos Davelis this week to take a closer look at this new age of economic warfare, and break down what it means for America’s global standing, how it’s spurring Europe into action, and what impact all of this could have on Greece.Taking us to our “I am HALC” segment, we’re putting the spotlight on HALC’s Bill Thanoukos, who is launching a campaign for alderman of Chicago’s 1st Ward, and looking to continue a long tradition of Hellenes committing themselves to public service.A little more info on our guests:Edward Fishman is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, and is the author of the New York Times bestseller Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare.Maria Demertzis is a Professor of Economic Policy at the European University Institute and leader of the Economy, Strategy, and Finance Center at the Conference Board Europe.Yiannis Mouzakis and Nick Malkoutzis are the founders of Macropolis.gr, a political and economic analysis site that focuses on Greece.You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

Vassilis Nedos, Athens-based diplomatic and defense reporter on Greek-Turkish tensions. Nik Nanos, data scientist and pollster analyzing American views of Greece. Lena Argiri, Washington correspondent covering U.S. policy toward Greece and Cyprus. They unpack DC forums and congressional momentum, Greece and Cyprus rising profiles in Washington, the surge in American sentiment for Greece, and the lingering Imia shadow on regional security.

Since its announcement, President Trump’s “Board of Peace” has made a number of headlines, and many in the region are asking if it can live up to its name, especially when it comes to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. As the President talks peace, he’s also raising the temperature with Iran, with a US aircraft carrier and warships approaching the region. More alarming however, is what seems to be an abandonment of Syria’s Kurds and the message it sends not just to America’s partners and allies, but to minorities in the region.Thanos Davelis is joined by experts Aaron David Miller, Nadine Maenza, Sinan Ciddi, and Michael Rubin as we try to make sense of what’s going on in a region of particular importance to Greece and Cyprus. Taking us to our “I am HALC” segment, this week we are dedicating it to the life and legacy of a giant in the Greek-American community, John Marks, who passed away this month. He was a man who not only poured himself into Greek causes, but helped build the community that we all cherish.You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as member here.

Defense, security, peace, and alliances are top of mind these days. This is clear in Greece, where we saw Athens take a major step - one that Prime Minister Mitsotakis called historic - toward upgrading its defense capabilities as it welcomed its latest top of the line frigate. The move, however, comes as we see issues over Greenland raise new questions about European security and America’s commitment to the transatlantic relationship. This week, Thanos Davelis digs into what this means for Greece with Kathimerini’s Tom Ellis, ELIAMEP’s Elena Lazarou, journalist John Psaropoulos, and HALC’s Endy Zemenides. As we wrap up, pour yourself a glass as we’ll be highlighting the rise of Greek wines and the important role one of HALC’s very own - Ted Diamantis - has played in this story.

The Greek Current is shifting from a daily show to a weekly program, allowing us to bring you deeper analysis and more cutting edge insights on Greece, Cyprus, our diaspora community, and the wider region. We’ll still bring you analysis from thought leaders on the breaking issues of the week, but will also introduce our very own “Meet the Press” roundtable featuring leading experts and journalists from around the world, and are introducing an “I am HALC” feature, where we put the spotlight on HALC members at the forefront of their fields.This week we’re kicking off the year with a look ahead at 2026, featuring interviews with Kathimerini’s Editor in Chief Alexis Papachelas and the Council on Foreign Relations’ Steven Cook, analysis from Lena Argiri, Nektaria Stamouli, and Loukas Kozonis in our “Meet the Press” segment, and taking a closer look at someone who is not just a national, but a global leader in emergency and sports medicine - whether it’s with US soccer, the Blackhawks, the Chicago Bears, or at the Chicago Marathon - and is at the core of the work HALC does: Dr. George Chiampas.An important note. As we move forward, access to our full episodes will be limited to paid HALC members and subscribers. If you’re not already a paid member of HALC, make sure to get your membership today so you don’t miss any of The Greek Current’s content. Also, please let us know what you think of the new format, and make sure to follow the Greek Current wherever you get your podcasts.Sign up for your HALC membership here: https://hellenicleaders.salsalabs.org/membership/index.html 

Since it was introduced, President Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine has put many European leaders in a bind. With Turkey’s occupation of Cyprus in its 51st year, and amid open Turkish threats against Greece’s Aegean islands, Greece is also worried about the precedent this plan would set. John Psaropoulos joins Thanos Davelis as we break down these concerns, the latest comments by US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack about resolving Greek-Turkish differences, and Greece’s efforts to aggressively court US investments.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. You can find it on Substack.com.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Why Trump’s plan for Ukraine alarms the GreeksCyprus pitches plan to untangle Turkey tensionsFarmers’ protests escalate into third weekProtesting farmers present their demands

In a recent speech Turkish President Erdogan praised Syrians who were born and raised in Turkey, speak Turkish, and are now in Syria, saying, "Right next door to us… a brother nation that speaks our same language is rising anew from the ashes.” The quote has drawn the attention of experts like Ryan Gingeras, who joins Thanos Davelis as we look into what it tells us about Erdogan’s worldview, and why this is something to keep an eye on as we look at the shifting power dynamics in the Levant.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Erdogan praises Syrians born and raised in TurkeyFrom Grexit to Eurogroup chief: Greece’s recovery storyPierrakakis elected Eurogroup chiefEuropean Commission firmly behind Greece-Cyprus power link

The Trump administration’s NSS - and its scathing critique of Europe - has drawn a lot of attention over the past days. Yet, this is only part of the big picture when we talk about the problems facing European leaders, which include everything from the war in Ukraine - where pressure is mounting - to a sluggish economy and the far right. Steven Erlanger, the chief diplomatic correspondent for The New York Times covering Europe, joins Thanos Davelis to look at the stakes Europe’s leaders face.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:The Challenges to Europe’s Security Go Beyond Trump’s Lack of SupportTom Barrack: Turkey has to give up the S-400 to return to F-35 programMounting pressure on farm policyBlockades deepen political strainPM holds talks with senior officials on farmer payments plan as protests escalate

The Economist just highlighted Greece as an example for countries looking to digitalize, recognizing the efforts Athens made between 2018 and 2024 to transform its public services and embrace the digital transformation. Diomidis Spinellis, a former Greek official now with the Athens University of Economics, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at this story.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece is teaching Germany how to get government onlineThe Greek economy’s drawbacksElefsina port tender coming 

This weekend we heard Hakan Fidan say he believes Ankara and Washington will find a way to remove CAATSA sanctions "very soon". His comments echo those of US Ambassador Tom Barrack, who was quoted saying that the “hurdle” blocking F-35 access for Turkey might be resolved within 4 to 6 months. Sinan Ciddi, a non-resident senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and an expert on Turkish politics, joins Thanos Davelis as we look to break down why Barrack and Fidan insist a “solution” is within reach despite Turkey refusing to get rid of its Russian S-400s.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkey Closer to Clearing Way for F-35s, Says Trump Ally BarrackTurkey, US will find way of removing CAATSA sanctions ‘very soon’, Turkish FM saysBerlin-Athens migrant returns ‘understanding’Iraklio airport resumes flights after farmers end protestProtesting Greek farmers swarm onto airport tarmac in Crete, forcing halt to flights