The Greek Current

In an exclusive with Reuters, Greek officials said the country plans to pay off loans granted under the first of three debt-crisis bailouts by 2031, ten years ahead of schedule. This marks yet another milestone in the country’s economic comeback, putting Greece on track to lose the label of the most indebted country in the EU. Yannis Palaiologos, a correspondent-at-large for Kathimerini and the author of “The Thirteenth Labour of Hercules”, a book on the Greek crisis, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into this latest story, and see how it fits into the broader picture of Greece’s economic comeback.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Exclusive: Greece to repay first bailout loans by 2031, 10 years earlyTrump Has Added Risk to the Surest Bet in Global FinanceCloser French-Greek defense ties seenCentral Asian states send envoys to Cyprus, accept UN resolutions on occupied north

Early this year American energy giant Chevron expressed interest in exploring for hydrocarbons in Greek waters off the coast of the Peloponnese. Just a few weeks ago, it expressed new interest in areas south of Crete. This vote of confidence is not only raising questions about what potential discoveries could mean for Greece and Europe, but are also delivering an important win for international law as they essentially “kill” the illegal Turkish-Libyan accord. John Psaropoulos joins Thanos Davelis as we look into why energy giants like Chevron and Exxon are looking at Greece, and break down why Chevron’s moves south of Crete are a victory for international law.John Psaropoulos is an independent journalist and Al Jazeera's correspondent in southeast Europe. He also publishes Hellenica, a weekly deep dive into Greek current affairs and history that you can find on Substack.com.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Gas interest off Crete kills Turkish-Libyan accord EU once denounced as “illegal"Greece to repay first bailout loans by 2031, 10 years earlyErdogan's main rival in Turkey makes first court appearance since arrest

As countries in the Eastern Mediterranean - particularly Greece, Cyprus, and Israel - deepen their ties, they are also faced with the challenges posed by malign actors across the region. This includes countries like Russia, Iran, and Turkey, but also non-state actors like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis in the Red Sea. Jonathan Spyer, director of research at the Middle East Forum and a contributor to the Jerusalem Post, the Wall Street Journal and The Australian, joins Thanos Davelis as we explore these security challenges and look at how East Med countries can work together to address them.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:No One Should Be Surprised About the Syrian MassacresTurkey, Israel have begun talks to avoid clashes in Syria, sources sayHigh-stakes poker over energy linkPM: ‘A trade war only produces losers’

Since the discovery of natural gas almost 15 years ago in the Eastern Mediterranean, we’ve seen this region come together in unexpected ways. Ties have expanded beyond Greece, Cyprus and Israel to include a number of Middle East countries, the US, and the EU, and have moved well beyond energy into the security realm as well. Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and Gregg Roman, executive director of the Middle East Forum, join Thanos Davelis to look at how East Med diplomacy is transforming the security landscape of the region.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Trump reacts to Mitsotakis interview: ‘I appreciate his comments’Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Europe Can Find ‘Win-Win Solution’ with President Trump on Trade that Is ‘Mutually Beneficial’‘No room for complacency’ in wildfire strategy

Since stepping into office, President Trump has shown a willingness to fracture the trans-Atlantic alliance with his tariffs and demands for higher military spending. While tariffs top the agenda, we’ve also seen President Trump wade into European politics, weighing in on Marine Le Pen’s conviction in France. Steven Erlanger, the chief diplomatic correspondent for The New York Times covering Europe, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss the challenges these tariffs present for Europe and the transatlantic partnership, look into the Le Pen conviction, and explore the links between the European right and the MAGA movement.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:The Predatory Friend: Trump Treats Europe as Anything but an AllyTrump Weighs In, Making Marine Le Pen’s Case Part of the Politics of Grievance‘FREE MARINE LE PEN!’ Trump lodges defense of convicted French far-right iconFlights and ferries halted in Greece as unions call general strikeErdogan says opposition seeking to obstruct Istanbul mayor probe

Last week President Trump’s announcement of global tariffs on both allies and adversaries went beyond most predictions, and we’ve seen experts talk about a US declaration of economic war on the world, while others warn of economic havoc, recession, and fears of a sharp global economic slowdown. Matthew Goodman, the director of the Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into the message these tariffs - which have been called the biggest break in America’s trade policy in over a century - send around the world.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Trump’s Tariffs Are Latest Sign of His Second-Term Appetite for RiskPresident Trump’s mindless tariffs will cause economic havocMarkets Swing Wildly as Trump Holds His Ground on Tariff PlanIMF praises Greek economy’s momentum, warns of inflation risksEU says it prefers negotiations, but proposes first tariffs on US importsEurope Gears Up to Make Its First Countermove to Trump Tariffs

Israel stepped up airstrikes on Syria last week, declaring the attacks a warning to the new Islamist rulers in Damascus. At the same time, it accused Turkey of trying to turn Syria - given its influence with the new interim government - into a Turkish protectorate. These strikes came days after Turkish President Erdogan reportedly called for the destruction of Israel, and ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House. Jonathan Schanzer, the executive director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into the growing tensions between Israel and Turkey.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Israel steps up Syria strikes, says Turkey aims for 'protectorate'Echoing Hamas, Erdogan reportedly calls for Israel's destruction amid push to rekindle ties with TrumpTrump and Netanyahu will meet again Monday on Gaza, tariffs and moreSparks could fly over power cableEU seeks unity in first strike back at Trump tariffs

President Trump announced sweeping tariffs this week, targeting both allies and adversaries. Europe was obviously not spared from these measures. Greek exporters are also preparing for the fallout from these tariffs, which come as the US market has grown in importance for Greek products like wine, feta, olive oil, cement, and aluminum over the past few years. Dimitra Manifava, a journalist with Kathimerini covering business stories and the economy, joins Thanos Davelis to look into what these tariffs could mean for Greek exports.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece braces for double whammy from Trump tariffsUS tariffs worry Greece, tooGreek feta producers fret over exports after US tariffsIsrael steps up Syria strikes, says Turkey aims for 'protectorate'As Unexplained Quakes Ease, Tourist Island Insists It’s Open for Business

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis just announced Greece will allocate €25 billion as part of a 12-year defense strategy that is going to be transformative for the country’s armed forces. The plan is forward looking, focusing on the integration of advanced defense technologies and the active participation of the Greek defense industry in all defense programs. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ vision for the Greek armed forces in the 21st century.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece plans €25 billion defense overhaul with new strategyCypriot leaders agree to form Bicommunal Youth Technical CommitteeRival leaders of split Cyprus make inroads to work together but rift remainsTurkey denounces opposition calls for a day of no shopping

As Europeans look to boost their security and defense capabilities, there’s an ongoing debate about including Turkey in this discussion. This is raising a number of moral and strategic concerns, especially given the recent arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and Turkey’s ties to Russia. Ambassador Marc Pierini, a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe and former EU ambassador to Turkey, joins Thanos Davelis to break down why including Ankara in any future plans on European security could prove deeply problematic.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkey’s Ambivalence Is a Threat to European SecurityGreece unveils 12-year defense planSevere storms batter Greek islands for a second day, with Crete hardest hit