The Greek Current

The death of former Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis at the age of 88 has put a spotlight on his tenure (1996-2004), with many highlighting his role in shaping today’s Greece. Key highlights include bringing Greece into the Eurozone, playing a key role in Cyprus’s quest for EU membership, establishing a framework for dialogue with Turkey, and securing the 2004 Athens Olympics. John Psaropoulos joins Thanos Davelis to look back at Simitis’ legacy and impact on Greece. 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:Costas Simitis, 2-Time Prime Minister of Greece, Dies at 88Tributes paid after former Greek PM Costas Simitis dies aged 88International media reflect on Costas Simitis’ legacy as Greece’s modernizerGreece begins UNSC tenure, eyes global impactTurkey plans ‘Blue Homeland’ exercise

Cyprus is once again making headline news as Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides becomes the first leader in the region to appoint a special representative - Ambassador Thessalia Salina Shambos - for religious freedoms and the protection of minorities in the Middle East. The move, welcomed in Washington, comes as new concerns about religious and ethnic minorities are emerging in the wake of war and upheaval in Syria and the region. Matthew Boyle, the Washington Bureau Chief for Breitbart News Network who interviewed President Christodoulides about this move, joins Thanos Davelis to break down why this is such a significant story.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Cyprus President Appoints ‘Special Representative’ for Religious Freedoms to Protect Christians, Other Minorities in Middle EastUS welcomes Cyprus’ move on Christian minorities in Middle EastLeadership changes do not affect Greek-US relationsSyria: Germany cautions Turkey against wider Kurdish fight

Athens and Nicosia are putting the spotlight on reports that Turkey and Syria could potentially reach a deal to delimit their maritime zones in a way that would promote Turkey’s “Blue Homeland” doctrine, and disregard the rights of neighboring states like Cyprus. Such a move would raise the specter of legal and political tensions reminiscent of the illegal Turkey-Libya memorandum. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis to break down what such a deal between Ankara and Damascus could mean for the region, and what steps Athens and Nicosia are taking to pre-empt it.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Athens and Nicosia on alert over possible Turkey-Syria EEZ delimitation dealAthens, Nicosia aim to pre-empt Turkey in SyriaCyprus can help rid Syria of chemical weapons and search for its missing, Cypriot top diplomat says

For many, it seems Turkey’s Erdogan is coming out as the big winner in Syria. But looking beyond the Middle East, it seems Ankara is also emerging as a winner in another arena - in the Horn of Africa. Its recent role in mediating a deal between Ethiopia and Somalia demonstrates Ankara’s growing assertiveness on the world stage, and is a clear message to Egypt and even Washington. Mariam Wahba, a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, joins Thanos Davelis to break down whether Turkey has outplayed Egypt and the US in the Horn of Africa. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:How Turkey Outplayed Egypt and the U.S. In The Horn Of AfricaVan Hollen, Graham threaten sanctions on Turkey to achieve ceasefire with Syrian Kurdish alliesMitsotakis highlights need for common European defense

The upheavals across the Middle East over the past year and a half - with the collapse of Assad’s regime in Syria taking center stage now - mean that the incoming Trump administration has a new chance to reshape the region. This raises important questions for Greece, which sits at the crossroads between Europe and the Middle East, and is at the heart of a number of regional initiatives. Endy Zemenides, HALC’s Executive Director, joins Thanos Davelis to look at the opportunities for President-elect Trump and for Greece in the new Middle East that is emerging.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Trump and the remaking of the modern Middle EastA Cease-Fire Is Extended in a Disputed City in Northern SyriaCyprus and EU condemn Turkey’s plans for military action in Syria

While the collapse of the Assad regime was celebrated across Syria, the uncertainty about what comes next has many holding their breath. This is especially true for the country’s minorities, particularly its dwindling Christian community. As Syria’s Christians wait to see what will emerge, Syria’s Kurds, another key minority in the country, are also under threat. Nadine Maenza joins Thanos Davelis to look at what’s at stake for religious and ethnic minorities in Syria in the wake of Assad’s fall.Nadine Maenza is the President of the IRF Secretariat, an international organization focused on building infrastructure to support the religious freedom movement globally. She also serves as a Global Fellow at the Wilson Center, and previously served as chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Can Syria’s dwindling Christian community survive under jihadi rebel rule?Turkey-backed Syrian factions end US-mediated ceasefire with Kurdish-led SDFTwo Russian oil tankers wrecked in Black SeaItaly's Meloni warns EU court against blocking Albania migrant relocations

Greece’s parliament has just approved the 2025 budget, with Prime Minister Mitsotakis highlighting measures designed to help mostly lower income households in the face of rising costs. This also includes measures that relate to Greece’s banking sector which have received a lot of media attention. Nick Malkoutzis, the co-founder and editor of Macropolis.gr, a political and economic analysis site that focuses on Greece, joins Thanos Davelis to break down what the government has put forward, look at the political dimension of this budget, and explore the key strengths and weaknesses of Greece’s economy as we head into 2025.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Parliament OKs 2025 budgetGreece to scrap some bank fees for retail customers, parliament approves budgetTurkey Says Syria’s New Rulers Agree to Abolish Kurdish ForcesSyria's Kurds fearful of the future after Islamist rebels seized powerWhy America’s Kurdish Allies Are Under Threat in a New SyriaMitsotakis highlights need to uphold ceasefire during Lebanon visitGreek PM visits Lebanon aiming to strengthen diplomatic ties, support stability

The fall of the Assad regime has put the migration issue back in the limelight in Europe, with a number of European countries, including Greece, announcing they were freezing asylum applications for Syrians or suggesting it’s time they prepare to return home. Many are pointing out that these reactions seem premature, however, as Syria’s future remains uncertain, and many Syrian refugees have put down roots in their new countries. Eleni Varvitsioti, the correspondent for Greece and Cyprus at the Financial Times, joins Thanos Davelis to look into Europe’s reaction to Assad’s fall and its impact on the continent’s ongoing migration debate.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:‘We need time’: Syrians in Europe resist calls to return homeSeveral EU nations and the UK pause asylum claims from SyriansSyrian refugees in Europe are not about to flock homeMitsotakis to visit Lebanon on MondayGreece to buy artillery systems from Israel and drones from US, officials say

In Greece abandoned "ghost" towns and villages scattered across the countryside provide a glimpse into the country’s broader demographic challenge, which Prime Minister Mitsotakis has warned is "existential". The government is now working to reverse worrying trends that could leave Greece’s population older and smaller as it looks to also continue rebuilding the economy following the financial crisis. Karen Gilchrist, a London based CNBC correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis to look into this phenomenon of “ghost" towns in Greece’s countryside and the broader demographic challenges facing Greece.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece's ghost towns offer a glimpse of a country struggling with 'existential' population collapseNicosia hails US green light for military training as ‘strategic milestone’Blinken meets Erdogan as forces backed by US, Turkey clash in Syria

Record breaking heat-waves, limited rainfall, and a spike in tourism have many in Greece concerned about the availability of water. This is something we’ve heard experts talk about with regards to Athens. In Greece’s Cycladic islands, however, which see millions of visitors every summer, this problem seems even more pronounced. Alexia Kalaitzi, an award-winning journalist and features reporter for Kathimerini, joins Thanos Davelis to look at what the mounting water crisis means for Greece and popular islands like Tinos.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Wells run dry as Tinos faces mounting water crisisBoosting Cyprus’ defense is key given proximity to war-wracked Mideast, defense minister saysTrump picks ambassadors to Greece and TurkeyTom Barrack, Trump's pick for Turkey ambassador, is good news for Erdogan