The Greek Current

The United States and Turkey are reportedly discussing the possibility of US companies building nuclear reactors in Turkey. This is seen as part of an effort to help Ankara move away from Russia, at the same time as Russia’s state-owned nuclear monopoly, Rosatom, is building a nuclear energy plant in Turkey at Akkuyu. While Washington looks like it is dangling the possibility of cooperation in front of Ankara, Congress is preparing legislation that would sanction Rosatom that could also push the administration to impose sanctions on Turkish entities as well. Andrea Stricker, a research fellow and deputy director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program, joins Thanos Davelis to look into these reports, and break down how this legislation could complicate US-Turkey ties.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:U.S. Considers Nuclear Cooperation With Turkey as Congress Tees Up SanctionsTurkey, US in talks on nuclear plant projects, Turkish official saysMitsotakis on CNN: Europe cannot rely only on US for defenseAlbania’s supreme court upholds Beleri verdict

On a narrow street in the old Greek quarter of Alexandria, the world renowned poet and writer Constantine Cavafy created some of the masterpieces that still inspire people across the world today. As of this past May, this home in Alexandria is now open to the public. Together with the Cavafy Archive in Athens, which is home to over 2,000 digitized manuscripts, with poems and handwritten notes, Cavafy’s life and work are now accessible to a global audience. Prof. Gonda Van Steen, the Koraes Chair at the Centre for Hellenic Studies and Department of Classics at King’s College London and a member of the academic committee for the Alexandria Cavafy House, joins Thanos Davelis to explore why making Cavafy widely accessible is important, and look at why his work still inspires us today.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Onassis Foundation has restored Cavafy House in AlexandriaGreek poet who inspired Forster, Hockney and Jackie Onassis emerges from the shadowsGreek PM reiterates warning to North MacedoniaCyprus-US traveler data agreement ratified

With Greece deep into its tourism season, issues of over-tourism and sustainability have largely dominated the headlines. A recent article in Kathimerini took a slightly different look at tourism, exploring how it impacts young Greeks. With the quintessential Greek summer increasingly out of reach for many in the country as they are priced out of certain locations, many young people end up taking on seasonal work only to be able to see a beach - something unthinkable for previous generations. Iliana Magra, a journalist with Kathimerini, joins Thanos Davelis to look into this side effect of tourism, and break down whether the Greek summer we’ve all taken for granted over the previous decades is out of reach for this generation.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Δουλεύουν σεζόν για τις βουτιές τουςGreeks priced out of vacationMitsotakis, Erdogan meet in WashingtonA Conversation With Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of GreeceHolguin gives Guterres her report on Cyprus problem and prospects to start talksDiplomatic efforts intensify amidst critical juncture

Last week Keir Starmer led Britain’s center-left Labour Party to a historic win over the Conservative Party. Prior to the elections, in November, Starmer had indicated that if Labour won the general election he would not prevent an agreement for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures. Ioannes Chountis, an adviser in the House of Lords and a council member of the Anglo-Hellenic League, joins Thanos Davelis to break down the recent UK election results, and look at what Starmer taking over at Downing Street means for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Starmer’s victory comes with constraintsThe UK elections and the Parthenon SculpturesMitsotakis, Erdogan to meet in WashingtonChina Tesla rival BYD signs $1bn Turkey plant deal

While Hungary’s Victor Orban - who currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU - is bidding to become the dominant hard-right force in the EU, he’s also raising eyebrows on the international level. His latest meeting with Russia’s President Putin and his decision to attend a meeting of the Organisation of Turkic States in Azerbaijan - which included the pseudo-state in the occupied north of Cyprus - has sparked reactions across Europe and within NATO. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis to look into Orban’s latest travels, his ties to Putin and Erdogan, and whether this is cause for concern in Athens, Nicosia, Brussels, and Washington.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Viktor Orbán’s rightwing group hits quota for recognition by EU parliamentWhy the EU is outraged over Orbán’s trip to see PutinEU foreign policy chief issues fresh rebuke to Hungary's OrbanFrench election aftermath and NATO summit dominate the agendaHomegrown anti-drone system on Psara frigate proves its worth on Red SeaUN envoy stresses need for Cypriot leadership in reconciliation efforts

The case of Fredi Beleri, the convicted mayor elect of Himare who belongs to Albania’s Greek minority, has heightened tensions between Greece and Albania over the past year. A recent poll exploring Greek attitudes toward bilateral relations and their views on Albanians who have made Greece their home shows that while attitudes toward Albanian immigrants have drastically improved, assessments of the political relationship are worse. Professor Ioannis Armakolas, Senior Research Fellow and Head of the South-East Europe Programme at ELIAMEP, joins Thanos Davelis to look into the progress that has been made in Greek-Albanian relations - with a focus on the people to people ties - amid lingering challenges facing the two countries.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greek public opinion and attitudes on Albania, Albanians and Greek-Albanian relationsAlbanian integration and acceptance in GreeceBerlin-Ankara ‘Grey Wolves’ row rumbles on as Germany summons Turkish envoyGermany summons Turkish ambassador over ‘wolf’ goal celebrationTurkey's Demiral to be suspended for two games over wolf gestureGovernment focus shifting to daily life

Last month was the hottest June ever experienced in Athens, at least since records began over 150 years ago. In fact, eight of the hottest 10 Junes ever recorded in Athens were during the last 20 years and four of those were in the last decade alone. This is having clear consequences for the city and its inhabitants, as rising temperatures and protracted heatwaves, beyond impacting daily life, also pose a number of health risks. Eleni Myrivili, the UN Chief Heat Officer working with UN-Habitat and the Arsht Rock Resilience Center at the Atlantic Council and the former Chief Resilience Officer and deputy mayor for Athens, joins Thanos Davelis to break down the challenges Athens is up against, explore the efforts to build urban heat resilience, and look at whether Athens can serve as an example to other cities.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Athens sizzles with hottest June on recordBuilding Urban Heat Resilience: The Athens Case StudyHellenic Air Force receives 20th upgraded F-16 ViperSyrians attack Turkish troops after anti-migrant riotsProtests and arrests as anti-Syrian riots rock TurkeyWith Fists and Knives, Mobs Attack Syrian Refugees in Turkey

This week kicked off with two former prime ministers and leaders of New Democracy - Antonis Samaras and Konstantinos Karamanlis - launching maybe the most severe criticism of Prime Minister Mitsotakis and his leadership that we’ve heard so far, touching on foreign and domestic policy. Their criticism comes amid broader political uncertainty among Greece’s leading parties following disappointing results in the European elections. Nick Malkoutzis, the co-founder of Macropolis.gr, joins Thanos Davelis to break down what these critiques mean for Prime Minister Mitsotakis and whether they could impact policy both at home and abroad. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:PM comes under fire from predecessorsMitsotakis's predecessors launch caustic attacks against PM's leadership, government policiesItalian ship under Ankara’s watchful eyeFirefighters battle wildfires on 2 Greek islands as premier warns of a dangerous summer

With the US in the midst of an intense diplomatic push to prevent a war between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, Turkey has also waded into the mix. While it’s still unclear what Turkey is looking to achieve should a conflict erupt, it looks like a policy is taking shape, especially after Ankara followed up on Hezbollah’s threats to Cyprus with its own “warning”. Sinan Ciddi joins Thanos Davelis to look into this latest “warning” from Ankara to Cyprus, dig into the Turkey-Hezbollah connections, and look at what role Ankara will likely play in any potential conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Sinan Ciddi is a non-resident senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where he contributes to FDD’s Turkey Program and Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP). He is also an Associate Professor of Security Studies at the Command and Staff College-Marine Corps University and Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Will Turkey Work With Hezbollah?Turkey Should Remain on FATF Grey ListNorth Macedonia’s PM calls Prespa Agreement a ‘reality’Four MPs enter PASOK’s leadership race in election countdownTwo to challenge Androulakis for PASOK leadership

With SYRIZA on the brink of civil war, PASOK facing a new leadership fight, and New Democracy still reeling from the aftermath of the European elections, it seems like a period of uncertainty has set in among Greece’s top political parties. Tom Ellis, the editor in chief of Kathimerini’s English Edition, joins Thanos Davelis to look at the challenges facing Greece’s political leaders amid the backdrop of broader uncertainty across the West, from the upcoming elections in France to the Presidential race in the US. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Uncertain times and the actions of political leadersTurkey tracks cable work in Cyprus EEZGreek parliament approves military procurement programs