The Greek Current

In recent years Greece’s general government debt has exceeded 350 billion euros and its debt-to-GDP ratio reached 160 per cent of GDP in 2023. Despite this, Greece has managed to fully repair its IMF loans and its economic performance has been a bright spot over the past years for the country, outperforming its Eurozone peers. Yiannis Mouzakis, the co-founder and editor of Macropolis.gr, a political and economic analysis site that focuses on Greece, joins Thanos Davelis to look at Greece’s debt and whether it still puts Greece at risk. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:From default to investment grade: A brief history of Greek debtAid for Gaza still leaving Cyprus by sea while landing pier fixed, Cypriot official saysDay limit for short-term rentals

This month Ankara moved to include the Blue Homeland doctrine, which expresses Ankara’s controversial maritime claims in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean, in Turkish school curriculums. In the meantime, Turkish President Erdogan once again took the opportunity on May 29th, 571 years after the fall of Constantinople, to make reference to conquests of the past, tying them to his vision for today’s Turkey. Ryan Gingeras joins Thanos Davelis to discuss Turkey’s decision to teach the Blue Homeland in Turkish schools, its wider ramifications, and explore the link between the rhetoric of conquest we’ve become used to hearing from Erdogan and policies like Blue Homeland.Ryan Gingeras is a professor in the Department of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School and an expert on Turkish, Balkan, and Middle East history. The views expressed in this interview are his own and do not reflect the views of the US government. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Blue Homeland doctrine planted in Turkish schoolsLibya maritime deal also in Turkish schoolsTurkey celebrates 1453 Constantinople fallOlympiakos triumphs in Conference League finalPanathinaikos wins its seventh European crownGreece to go ahead with plans for Aegean marine park, PM says

Over the last year, a number of regional crises - from Ukraine to the Middle East - have taken the international spotlight off Turkey and President Erdogan. Combined with a number of sharp divergences with Western partners over Ankara’s contradictory foreign policy ambitions and rule-of-law deficiencies, it looks like Turkey’s overall standing on the international scene has diminished. That’s the case Ambassador Marc Pierini, who joins Thanos Davelis on our show today, makes in his latest piece, “Turkey’s Dwindling International Role”.Ambassador Marc Pierini is a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe, where his research focuses on developments in the Middle East and Turkey from a European perspective. He previously served as EU ambassador and head of delegation to Turkey (2006–2011). You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkey’s Dwindling International RolePM Mitsotakis meets with Chicago Council on Global Affairs delegationDefense minister meets with Chicago Council of Global AffairsNikola Dimitrov: ‘The bridge might collapse without care’

Late last week Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama was in the ethnic Greek town of Himare, where he announced the restitution of some 400 titles to homes in the area to residents who have been suing the Albanian state for more than 30 years. Rama’s attempt to reconcile with the Greeks of Himare comes as the town’s mayor elect, Fredi Beleri, remains imprisoned, and for many this gesture does not go far enough in addressing the longstanding and serious issue of minority property rights. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis to break down Edi Rama’s charm offensive toward the Greeks of Himare, the issue of property rights facing the Greek minority, and more.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Rama theatrics with ethnic Greek propertiesAnkara ‘threatens’ own marine parksSkrekas: We will keep fighting against inflation

With New Democracy set to cement its political dominance in the upcoming European elections, the battle for second place is heating up as SYRIZA and PASOK’s leaders turn up the heat to see who will take on the leading role on Greece’s center-left after the elections. The fight for second place is also viewed by many as a battle of survival for SYRIZA’s Stefanos Kasselakis and PASOK’s Nikos Androulakis, as a poor showing in June could raise questions about their leadership. Nick Malkoutzis, the co-founder and editor of Macropolis.gr, a political and economic analysis site that focuses on Greece, joins Thanos Davelis to look at the upcoming elections and the battle for second place that’s unfolding. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Centre-left parties jockey for leading role in post-election landscapePolls provide little comfort for opposition parties ahead of EP electionsFighting cost-of-living crisis is government’s top priority, PM saysHas Europe already reached its demographic tipping point?

After decades of negotiations and acrimony, Athens and Skopje signed the Prespa Agreement in 2018 that effectively put an end to the Macedonia name dispute and opened the way for North Macedonia to join NATO and start the process toward EU membership. Since the election win of the VMRO-DPMNE in early May, however, its leadership has taken a nationalist turn that could put this deal at risk. Tom Ellis, the editor in chief of Kathimerini’s English edition, joins Thanos Davelis to look into what he has called a destabilizing nationalism from Skopje, and break down what the broader risks are for not just North Macedonia and Greece, but the region.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Destabilizing nationalism in North MacedoniaPoland and Greece urge EU to create common air shield, says Polish PMVon der Leyen backs Polish, Greek calls for EU air defense shieldMitsotakis tells Zelenskyy Greece will continue to support KyivUkraine renews military aid request

Since an economic overhaul in June last year, Turkey’s central bank has increased its main interest rate to 50 per cent from 8.5 per cent in an effort to tame rampant inflation. Despite this, and other steps, Turks continue to face nearly 70 per cent inflation rates, high borrowing costs and cuts in measures that in recent years helped soften the impact of rising prices. Almost a year since these economic overhauls, Ayla Jean Yackley, an Istanbul-based journalist covering Turkey with stories in The Financial Times, Politico, and other major outlets, joins me to look at Turkey’s inflation crisis, Erdogan’s sweeping economic overhauls, and how this is impacting Turks every day.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkey’s inflation crisis rages a year into economic turnaroundParty leaders are taking center stageParties targeting crucial undecided voteGreek PM rules out ‘full-package solution’ with Turkey

Earlier this year Turkey completed the maiden test flight of its prototype Kaan fighter, a development celebrated in Ankara. Is this the groundbreaking achievement Turkish media is claiming, and what does it mean for Turkey’s defense industry? Rebecca Lucas, a senior analyst in defense and security with RAND Europe, and Stuart Dee, a research leader in the defense and security research group at RAND Europe, join Thanos Davelis to look into the Kaan fighter jet, break down whether the hype around it is justified, and see how it fits into the broader aims of Turkish defense-industrial investment. Rebecca Lucas is a senior analyst in defense and security with RAND Europe and is heavily involved with RAND’s Centre for Defence Economics and Acquisition. Her research focuses on the defense-industrial base, acquisition policy, and supply-chain analysis, as well as a regional focus on Turkey.Stuart Dee is a research leader in the defense and security research group at RAND Europe, focusing primarily on defense economics and acquisition, as well as issues relating to the U.K. industrial base and defense exports. He is also a member of RAND’s Centre for Defence Economics and Acquisition.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Crowning Achievement? Kaan And The Turkish Defense IndustryGreek PM warns ‘isolated’ Skopje over compliance with name dealAthens awaits next move by SkopjeCyprus LNG terminal talks go onCharges dropped against nine Egyptians over 2023 migrant shipwreck off Greece

Last week the EU gave the final green light to a landmark overhaul of its migration and asylum policies, ending more than eight years of efforts to rewrite the rulebook. This was followed up by 15 EU states - including frontline states like Greece, Italy, and Cyprus - demanding further measures to tighten the bloc’s asylum policy, including sending asylum seekers to third countries. These moves come with European elections less than a month away. Angeliki Dimitriadi, a Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Migration Programme at ELIAMEP, and Thanos Davelis met at College Year in Athens to discuss these latest developments on migration and asylum, and look at how they may impact the upcoming elections.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:EU signs off on sweeping migration overhaul ahead of elections15 EU states demand plan to send asylum seekers to third countriesGreek, Egyptian FMs affirm strategic relationshipPM: North Macedonia should use constitutional name everywhereMickoski doing his sponsors’ bidding

This week kicked off with Turkish President Erdogan stating that 1000 Hamas members were being treated in Turkey, a comment that Turkish officials tried to walk back, saw The Times report that Hamas may have been planning to establish a base in Turkey, and culminated with the Turkish leader suggesting that Israel would “set its sights” on Turkey if it defeated Hamas in Gaza. Expert Sinan Ciddi joins Thanos Davelis to look into Erdogan’s latest comments on Hamas, the recent report in The Times, and the questions this raises about the Erdogan-Hamas connection.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:Secret Document Discovered in Gaza Reveals Hamas Plan to Establish Base in TurkeyErdogan defends Hamas, says members are being treated in Turkish hospitalsSecret papers reveal Hamas plan to set up base in TurkeyTurkey dials up Gaza diplomacy as cease-fire talks hit 'impasse'Gov’t to table F-35 letter of acceptance in ParliamentEU ministers to strengthen migration policies