The Greek Current

Syria stands at a pivotal moment. As the violent persecution of Syria’s minorities intensifies, key voices are calling on the US and the international community to help steer the country away from authoritarianism and toward a future that ensures equal citizenship for all Syrians. Two of those voices  - Nadine Maenza and Aykan Erdemir - join Thanos Davelis as we break down why these steps are needed, before it’s too late.Nadine Maenza is the chair of the Institute for Global Engagement, co-chair of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, and former chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Aykan Erdemir is the Anti-Defamation League’s senior director of Global Research and Diplomatic Affairs.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:The path to security for Syria’s minorities goes through equal citizenship As Trump warms to Syria, US pushes UN to lift Sharaa sanctionsEgypt reaffirms support for Sinai Monastery amid speculation over its futureCyprus property disputes threaten UN peace talks

Despite Cyprus being better prepared than ever ahead of the wildfire season, last month Cyprus was hit with its worst wildfire in decades. As Cypriots look for answers, countries in the region - including Greece - are also facing similar challenges as they struggle to build resilience and keep up with the impacts of climate change. Nektaria Stamouli, the deputy editor in chief of Kathimerini's English Edition and Politico's Eastern Mediterranean correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis as we dig into this story.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Confused politics fans the flames of Southern Europe’s wildfiresTurkish parliamentary committee begins work on PKK peace initiativeAnti-drone system propels Greek plans for home-grown defence industry

With the summer holiday season kicking into full gear, Greek politics doesn’t seem ready for a break just yet. Nick Malkoutzis, the co-founder and editor of Macropolis.gr, joins Thanos Davelis as we dig into what’s keeping Greek politicians busy in the summer heat - whether it’s the continued fallout over an EU farm subsidy scandal, speculation that former prime minister Antonis Samaras could form his own party, or new relief measures set to be announced after the summer.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Gov’t faces battles on multiple frontsParliamentary chicanery raises doubt about PM’s grip on party as he looks ahead to relief packageGreece, US discuss possible new military basesGreek, Egyptian FMs meet; Sinai in spotlight

Over the past month we’ve seen a battle of maps in the Eastern Mediterranean, with the Tripoli-based government in Libya, backed by Turkey, raising the temperature with Greece. Thanos Davelis brings on Constantinos Filis, the director of the Institute of Global Affairs and a professor of international relations at the American College of Greece, as we dig into Greece’s Libya conundrum and break down whether it’s time for Athens - given Ankara’s role here - to rethink its Turkey strategy.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece’s tricky Libyan balancing actTime for Athens to rethink its Turkey strategyWarming waters transforming Greece’s seasGreece condemns Turkey’s marine parks as ‘unacceptable, unilateral and illegal’

Earlier this week we dug into the EU-US trade deal, a deal that many Europeans feel is a humiliation and a surrender. As the dust settles around the details of this agreement, Thanos Davelis brings on Yiannis Mouzakis, the co-founder and editor of Macropolis.gr - a political and economic analysis site that focuses on Greece, to take a closer look at what this deal could mean for Greece.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece digests EU-US trade deal amid mixed reactionFirst foreign universities to be approvedTurkey government 'manufactures' enemies, opposition tells AFP

The past week has seen a number of developments on defense making headlines in Greece, whether it’s news that Athens will tap into Europe’s SAFE program, or plans that foresee self-sufficient military units on Greece’s islands. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis to break down why these moves matter, and look at what else he is paying attention to, including Turkey’s deal for Eurofighter jets and its expected response to Greece’s new maritime park in the Aegean.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece to tap EU loans to aid defense industriesGreece, 17 EU states apply for SAFE defense financing toolArmed Forces plan foresees self-sufficient army units on islandsGreece awaiting Turkey’s marine park responseAthens not surprised by Turkey’s Eurofighter acquisitionLibyan coast guards train in Greece under plan to stem migrant flowsErdogan shouldn’t bank on Trump 

Earlier this month about 30 Kurdish PKK fighters put their assault rifles in a cauldron and set them on fire, a symbolic move after Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK’s imprisoned leader, issued a call for the PKK to lay down its arms. Thanos Davelis is joined by Piotr Zalewski, The Economist's Turkey correspondent, as we look into whether Kurds and Turks, after more than four decades of conflict, are closer than ever to peace. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Kurds and Turks are closer than ever to peacePeace in Turkey must not become a smokescreen for repressionAwaiting the details of the EU-US trade dealMPs vote to probe subsidies scandal

Surrender, submission, humiliation. Those are the words floating around in Europe after the US and the EU reached a tariff deal this weekend that President Trump described as the “biggest deal” ever made. Thanos Davelis brings on Simon Nixon, an independent journalist, Kathimerini columnist, and the publisher of the Wealth of Nations newsletter, as we ask the question: big beautiful deal, humiliating surrender, or a little bit of both?You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Europe's SurrenderPaying to Play: Europe’s Costly Concessions in Trump’s New Trade WarTrump and EU Reach Tariff Deal, Avoiding Trade WarEurope averts its Trumpian trade nightmareYemen’s Houthi rebels threaten to escalate attacks on ships linked to companies dealing with IsraelWildfire burns 1.3% of Cyprus’ land, satellite data showsReal cost of Cyprus fire near €20 mln

With President Trump’s tariffs putting a sharp focus on China, most will likely be closely watching negotiations between the two as they look to avoid a full-blown trade war. In the meantime, the EU also has its eye on China, as Beijing’s wide trade surplus with the bloc and its backing of Moscow are key concerns. Brad Setser, the Whitney Shepardson senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations with an expertise in global trade, joins Thanos Davelis today as we take a closer look at how Europe is shifting when it comes to China.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Ursula von der Leyen tells Xi Jinping EU-China ties are at ‘inflection point’Wildfires rage in Greece and Turkey as extreme heat persistsNew legislation will grant legal status to Mt Sinai monastery

Seeing little progress in its effort to get back into the F-35 program, Turkey is now turning to the Eurofighter, with reports this week indicating a deal with both the UK and Germany for 40 jets. Tyler Stapleton and Sinan Ciddi, two experts tracking this issue closely, join Thanos Davelis today to look at what this deal means for Turkey and President Erdogan, and whether this could pose a risk for Europe in the long run.Sinan Ciddi is a non-resident senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and an expert on Turkish politics.Tyler Stapleton serves as director of congressional relations at FDD Action. He previously spent eight years working in Congress where he served as a senior advisor on national security, foreign policy, defense, and intelligence for two members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:UK and Germany Agree to Sell Eurofighter Typhoon Fighter Jets to TurkeyUK, Turkey Sign Eurofighter Deal After Germany Gives NodCyprus gets help from other countries to battle huge wildfire that has killed 2Mitsotakis invites Tripoli to engage in EEZ delimitation talks