The Greek Current

The Financial Times recently reported that Greece and some other EU countries have been under pressure to send more aid to Ukraine, specifically air defense systems. Prime Minister Mitsotakis has ruled this out, citing Greece’s defense needs. Constantinos Filis, the director of the Institute of Global Affairs and a professor of international relations at the American College of Greece, joins Thanos Davelis to break down this story, which comes at a critical juncture in the war in Ukraine, and look at the different ways Athens has supported and continues to support Kyiv.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece and Spain under pressure to provide Ukraine with air defence systemsHaggling over Greek aid to UkraineConvicted leader of Greek far-right Golden Dawn party released on paroleEU funnels aid to Lebanon amid Syria migrant surge to Cyprus

This summer will mark 50 years since Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus, and for the last five decades tens of thousands of Turkish occupation troops have been present in the northern part of the island. 50 years later, the US still refuses to officially recognize Turkey’s illegal occupation as an occupation. Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum, joins Thanos Davelis to argue that recognizing Turkey’s presence in Cyprus as an occupation will only strengthen America’s position in the region, especially at a time when Nicosia is stepping up and punching above its weight as an indispensable partner.Read Michael Rubin’s latest: Refusing to Call Cyprus Occupied Isn’t Sophisticated. It’s StupidIs Albania’s Edi Rama the New Erdogan?You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Pappas, Bilirakis, Titus, Malliotakis Introduce the Bipartisan End the Cyprus Embargo ActGreece boosts special firefighting units to cope with its growing heat risk

Politicians, scientists and organizations from all over the world were in Athens this April as Greece hosted the 9th International Our Ocean Conference. Greece, the US, and all stakeholders made some 450 commitments totalling billions of dollars for the protection of the oceans and seas, including two new marine parks in the Aegean and the Ionian seas. The State Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Ocean, Fisheries and Polar Affairs Dr. Mahlet Mesfin joins Thanos Davelis to look back at the key takeaways from the Our Ocean conference in Athens, and explore how protecting the oceans is a space where the US and Greece can expand their already strong ties.Dr. Mahlet Mesfin serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Ocean, Fisheries and Polar Affairs in the Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs where she oversees the formulation and implementation of U.S. policy on a broad range of international issues concerning the ocean, the Arctic, the Antarctic, and marine conservation.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece to spend €780 mln to protect marine biodiversity, PM saysEnvironmental protection is blue, tooOur Ocean Conference in Athens, April 15-17, 2024USAID at Our Ocean Conference 2024Von der Leyen to unveil aid for Lebanon to stop refugee flows, says Cyprus‘Blue Homeland’ doctrine to be taught at Turkish schools

After originally leaking that a White House visit was in play in the lead up to municipal elections at the end of March, President Erdogan is now postponing his May meeting with President Biden in Washington, DC. No reason was cited, but, as some analysts note, the move will likely upend efforts to mend ties between the two NATO allies. Wolfango Piccoli, the co-founder of the risk analysis company Teneo, joins Thanos Davelis to look into why this visit was postponed and what message it sends about the US-Turkey relationship and Ankara’s broader ties with the West.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkey postpones Erdogan's White House visitOur neighborhood just got unpredictable againPM’s Ankara trip to go ahead as plannedGuilty verdicts decried as too lenientTurkey says it backs outgoing Dutch prime minister Rutte’s candidacy for NATO chief

Voters in North Macedonia went to the polls on Wednesday for the first round of presidential elections in a vote widely seen as a litmus test for upcoming parliamentary elections. There are some concerns the election outcome could affect North Macedonia’s relations with Greece and Bulgaria - given references to the Prespa Agreement and constitutional changes Sofia is calling for - and further complicate its EU accession process. Nektaria Stamouli, the deputy editor in chief of Kathimerini’s English Edition and Politico’s Eastern Mediterranean correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis to look at Wednesday’s election and its broader implications for the country’s relations with its neighbors and its EU aspirations.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:North Macedonia polls to test EU driveFirst round of North Macedonia’s presidential polls shows big shift towards center-right oppositionAmalthea corridor ‘awaiting Gaza pier’Greece rules out air defence systems to Ukraine, prime minister says

Claims that Turkish President Erdogan has canceled an upcoming meeting at the White House have been circulating in Turkish media. With neither Washington nor Ankara formally denying the rumors, it is raising more questions about whether they are true or not. In the meantime, it seems Ankara is once again putting up hurdles with regard to NATO, this time over the approval of former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the new secretary-general. Amberin Zaman, Al-Monitor’s chief correspondent covering major stories on the Middle East and North Africa, including Turkey, joins Thanos Davelis to get to the bottom of these rumors around Erdogan’s White House visit.Read Amberin Zaman’s latest here: Has Turkey’s Erdogan axed his Biden meeting because of Israel?You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:French ask to borrow air defense systemPyatt: Greece can cover 80% of needs via RES

Today marks 109 years since the Armenian genocide began. With commemorations taking place across the world, there is a renewed fear that the lessons of “Never Again” have been forgotten following Azerbaijan’s attack on Nagorno Karabakh and the subsequent mass exodus of over 100,000 Armenians from the region in what has been described as ethnic cleansing. Aram Hamparian, the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America, joins Thanos Davelis to talk about the very real threats facing Armenians in the Caucasus today, and to look at what steps the West - particularly the US - need to take to give meaning to the words “Never Again”. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Armenians fear new war with Azerbaijan despite talk of peaceArmenian victims group asks International Criminal Court to investigate genocide claimBipartisan, Bicameral Coalition of U.S. Legislators Call for American Leadership to Secure Justice for Artsakh and the Armenian GenocideGreek top court bars far-right Spartiates party from EU election raceGreece draws 3 bln euros from 30-year bond amid huge demand

Changes to Greece’s Golden Visa scheme are set to kick in at the end of the summer. This will see increases in the minimum amount needed to invest in order to secure a residence permit in an effort to tackle the country’s housing crisis. This move comes as golden visa programs are being phased out or shut down around Europe, and as housing has become a hot political issue. Nikos Roussanoglou, a journalist with 23 years of experience at Kathimerini covering the economy, joins Thanos Davelis to look at what these new changes will mean, and whether we are seeing the beginning of the end of the golden visa scheme.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Extra rules for Golden VisaGolden Visa Programs, Once a Boon, Lose Their LusterGreece tightens Golden Visa rulesGolden Visa demand growsRise of house prices continuesNorth Macedonia to elect president after campaign focused on EU membershipGreece plans early repayment of eurozone bailout loans this year

Investments in Greece have shot up over the past years, with the country outperforming its Eurozone partners when it comes to the pace with which it is attracting and increasing investments. Despite this positive picture, there are a number of myths around investments in Greece, especially when it comes to real estate and the Golden Visa scheme. Michael Arghyrou, the head of the Council of Economic Advisors for Greece’s Finance Ministry and a professor in Economics at the University of Piraeus, joins Thanos Davelis to bust some of these myths and look at how investments are transforming Greece’s economy. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Δώδεκα μύθοι και μία αλήθεια για τις επενδύσειςSun, Sea and Exports Give South Europe Reason to Feel SmugGreece will not compromise defense, spokesman says following FT reportGreece and Spain under pressure to provide Ukraine with air defence systemsIraq, Turkey to elevate security, economic ties after Erdogan visit

Since emerging from its international bailouts and a decade-long economic crisis, the Greek economy is now surging, outperforming its eurozone partners with its economy expected to grow nearly 3% this year. Despite this positive outlook, there are key challenges ahead, as some economies in the eurozone have slowed down, and many Greeks hurt by the crisis are still struggling. Nikos Vettas, the General Director of the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research and Professor of Economics at the Athens University of Economics and Business, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss this economic rebound and explore the challenges ahead.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greek economy surges after decade of painAs economy rebounds, Greece will wrap up bank sales this year, finance minister saysRapprochement with Turkey has reduced illegal migration flows, Mitsotakis saysHamas leader to visit Turkey for talks with ErdoganHamas Leader to Meet With Erdogan in Turkey