The Greek Current

The US election is now behind us and President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to the White House in January. As the congratulatory messages streamed in from around the world, one of the world leaders who was quick to call Trump was President Erdogan. Turkey expert Nicholas Danforth, a Senior Non-Resident Fellow at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) and Editor at War on the Rocks, joins Thanos Davelis to look at what the election of Donald Trump - well known for his relationship with Erdogan in his first term - could mean for US-Turkey relations.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Sustainable estrangement: Embracing the new normal in US-Turkish relationsTurkey's Erdogan, Trump discuss improving Turkey-US cooperationRegional leaders discuss international developmentsFidan arrives in Athens for pivotal talksGreece cites new trust of Turkey as the neighbors seek to ease tensions

At the end of last month Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the site of the Holocaust museum that is being built in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, a city that was home to a thriving and important Jewish community numbering in the tens of thousands before World War II. The museum has been years in the making, and, as The Guardian reported recently, is set to open in 2026. Leon Saltiel joins Thanos Davelis to break down what this means for the Jewish community of the city and of Greece, why it has taken so long, and what role this museum can play in combating worrying trends across Europe of anti-semitism, Holocaust denial, and the rise of the far-right.Leon Saltiel is a historian from Thessaloniki and author of the award winning book The Holocaust in Thessaloniki. He also serves as Director of Diplomacy, Representative at UN Geneva and UNESCO, and Coordinator on Countering Antisemitism for the World Jewish Congress.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Eighty years after thousands of Greek Jews were murdered, Thessaloniki’s Holocaust museum is finally set to openGermany’s president visits the site of a Holocaust museum being built in GreeceAs he heads to Athens, Turkish FM speaks of ‘positive momentum’ but also ‘comprehensive solutions’Scholz sets stage for German snap election as government collapses 

Europe has closely watched the US presidential election over the past months, anxiously waiting to see who will be elected and what America will emerge after the elections. Yannis Palaiologos, a journalist at large with Kathimerini, joined Thanos Davelis on Tuesday as the polls were still open in the US to break down what it has been like watching - and covering - this high stakes US election from Europe, how the American experiment with democracy has influenced him and others across Europe, and whether Europe is ready to deal with the new America that is taking shape.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Election Live Updates: NYTimesGreece braces for US election outcomeElection reverberations felt in GreeceErdogan ally floats Turkey constitutional amendment to let him extend his tenure

While all eyes are on the US elections today, in Greece it seems that there is a permanent state of campaigning. After the PASOK elections a few weeks ago, SYRIZA is now preparing for its own leadership elections this month. In the meantime, internal drama in New Democracy and PASOK’s improved poll numbers have caught the media’s attention as well. Panos Koliastasis, adjunct lecturer in politics at the Hellenic Open University and author of the book Permanent campaigning in Greece in times of crisis, joins Thanos Davelis to look at these developments and what message they send about Greece’s political scene.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Rival factions claim victory in SYRIZA delegate elections ahead of pivotal party congressND and SYRIZA contend with internal strife as PASOK advancesND’s strategy against PASOK: Divide and conquerEighty years after thousands of Greek Jews were murdered, Thessaloniki’s Holocaust museum is finally set to openPro-EU leader wins Moldova election despite alleged Russian meddlingMitsotakis congratulates Moldovan president on re-election

The past years have seen an exponential increase in the number of Americans who choose Greece for their vacation, and this trend is expected to continue in 2025. While Americans are arriving in Greece in droves, what do they really think about the country? That’s the focus of a recent poll that not only puts the spotlight on perceptions and impressions of Greece in the US, but also raises questions for Greece’s tourism sector about the country’s overall brand. Iliana Magra, a journalist with Kathimerini, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss this poll, the positive trends in US tourism to Greece, and the importance for Greece to further develop its brand abroad.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Αλλάζοντας το brand «Ελλάδα» στις ΗΠΑCyprus is committed to expanding defense ties with the US, says its presidentTurkey ousts 3 elected pro-Kurdish mayors from office and replaces them with state officials

With the US elections around the corner, discussions are already underway about how a new administration will tackle the question of Turkey. As this discussion intensifies, just a few days ago we saw members of Congress call out Turkish President Erdogan’s aggressive rhetoric against NATO and key allies. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Sinan Ciddi and Endy Zemenides, the Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, join Thanos Davelis to look at why a new US administration cannot afford to look past Turkish President Erdogan’s aggressive rhetoric.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Gottheimer, Bilirakis Lead Bipartisan Letter to Secretary Blinken Regarding President Erdoğan’s Anti-NATO and Anti-Israel RhetoricSix miles? Not a chance.Sustainable estrangement: Embracing the new normal in US-Turkish relationsRegional rivals join forces: Greece, Turkey in OSCE bidGreek content, Turkish irePM reaffirms commitment to new minimum wage hikes

Earlier this week Greeks around the world celebrated “OXI Day” - the day 84 years ago that saw Greece reject the ultimatums of Italy’s Mussolini. The heroics of the Greek army during World War II are well known, as they showed occupied Europe that the Axis was not invincible. Today, however, I want to focus on another side of this story, and that’s the ongoing search for the remains of Greek soldiers who perished as the Greek army pushed the Italians back, many of them buried in the mountains of Albania. Yiannis Papadopoulos, a journalist with Kathimerini and author of a recent report highlighting this issue, joins Thanos Davelis to look into this story, which remains an open wound for the relatives of these soldiers.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Ούτε τους έκλαψαν ούτε τους ασπάστηκανBiden expresses optimism for Cyprus solution during Christodoulides’ White House visitBiden, Cyprus president discuss administration push to win cease-fires in Gaza and LebanonGreece seeks tougher EU migration policies as it braces for impact of Mideast wars

The Greek and Turkish foreign ministers are set to meet on November 8th in Athens to explore whether there is genuine room for substantive discussions on Greek-Turkish differences, particularly issues in the Aegean Sea. In the lead up to this meeting, neither Greece nor Turkey have deviated from their core positions, something diplomats say is expected. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis as we look ahead at this crucial meeting, breaking down what to expect from Athens and Ankara, how the US elections could impact this process, and what role the EU can play. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece and Turkey hold firm on positions ahead of pivotal Nov 8 meetingAnnouncement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the attacks on the Greek Member of the European Parliament Fredi Beleri (29.10.2024)Beleri pelted with yogurt and eggs in TiranaFirst A-level credit rating for Cyprus

This week Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulidis will head to Washington, DC for an official meeting with President Joe Biden at the Oval Office. The invitation - which was reported on this weekend - comes as US-Cyprus relations continue to reach new heights. These past few months alone have put this positive trajectory in the spotlight, with Cyprus and the US signing a defense cooperation agreement and initiating a strategic dialogue. Lena Argiri, the Washington, DC correspondent for ERT - the Greek Public Broadcasting Company - and Kathimerini, joins Thanos Davelis to look at what this White House visit means for US-Cyprus ties, especially as Cyprus emerges as a critical strategic partner for the United States.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Cypriot President Christodoulides to meet with Biden at the White HouseGreek president, PM attend October 28th commemoration eventsMitsotakis highlights importance of national unity ahead of ‘Ochi Day’North Macedonia seeking closer cooperation

Just days after we saw moves that hinted a resumption of negotiations between Ankara and the PKK could be on the table, a deadly attack took place in Ankara that killed 5 people and left more than 20 wounded. Turkish authorities said the PKK stood behind the attack, and Turkey’s air force bombed Kurdish militant targets in neighboring Iraq and Syria. Ayla Jean Yackley, an Istanbul-based journalist covering Turkey with stories in The Financial Times, Politico, and other major outlets, joins Thanos Davelis to break down these latest developments and look into the reported efforts to end the conflict between the Turkish army and the PKK.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkey pummels Kurds in Syria over Ankara attack amid overtures to PKK leader OcalanTurkey strikes Kurdish militant targets in Iraq and Syria following deadly attack on defense companyPM’s Serbia visit underscores Balkan EU integration effortsNASA Welcomes Republic of Cyprus as 46th Artemis Accords SignatoryUnited States Welcomes the Republic of Cyprus’ Signing of the Artemis Accords