The Greek Current

Greek and US officials will hold the 5th Strategic Dialogue in Washington, DC on Friday, and Foreign Minister Gerapetritis will also meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The agenda ranges from regional developments to the sale of F-35 jets and the possibility of co-producing Constellation-class frigates. As the Strategic Dialogue kicks off, another set of discussions is taking place in the Eastern Mediterranean, where the UN chief’s new personal envoy for Cyprus is meeting with all stakeholders. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis to look at Friday’s Strategic Dialogue in DC, and discuss the latest developments on the Cyprus issue. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:FM heads to Washington with full agendaStudents block Athens streets to protest private universities possibly coming to GreeceGreek students step up protests against private university planNatural gas exports from Cyprus to Egypt ‘key’ for energy relationsChristodoulides and Egypt's FM Shoukry discuss common challenges

Over the past years Greece has seen a sharp increase in home prices and rents, with many talking about a housing crisis as Greeks are being priced out of the property market. This has put the spotlight on the Golden Visa scheme. 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 into Greece’s housing crisis and the Golden Visa scheme. We also explore whether it's time, now that the Greek economy has returned to a much more stable path, for Greece to rethink this scheme and take bold steps to address this crisis.Read Yiannis Mouzakis’ latest here: Time running out for Golden Visa as housing problems increaseYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Farmers intensify protests, block highwaysPrivate universities bill unveiled

One year ago southeastern Turkey was devastated by a series of powerful earthquakes that killed tens of thousands and left even more without homes. It also ushered in a period of calm in the Aegean, as Greece was quick to assist its Turkish neighbors. A year later, the magnitude of this disaster continues to not only defy massive recovery efforts, but also impact Turkey’s relations with Greece. Nektaria Stamouli, the deputy editor in chief of Kathimerini’s English Edition and Politico’s Eastern Mediterranean correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss a recent trip with a team of international journalists to southeast Turkey that looked into the ways this earthquake continues to impact Turkey and the region.Read Nektaria Stamouli’s latest for Kathimerini here: Turkey, a year after the life-changing earthquakesYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Vanished kids and rampant corruption: Horrors behind Turkey’s earthquake lingerGreek-Turkish ties could hit some snagsUN Cyprus envoy discusses obstacles with PMTurkey revives plan to convert another iconic Byzantine site into a mosque

While no major news on the Parthenon Sculptures has emerged since British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s infamous snub of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in late last year, the incident reinvigorated the debate around the return of the Sculptures to their home in Athens. Nikos Efstathiou, who was just in London reporting on the issue for Kathimerini, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss the sentiment in London, and why the return of the Parthenon Sculptures seems all but inevitable. Read Nikos Efstathiou’s latest piece in Kathimerini here: In London, the return of the Parthenon Sculptures seems all but inevitableYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece will not compromise ‘core positions,’ say sourcesGreek-Turkish ties could hit some snagsGov’t rules out additional support for farmersFarmers unsatisfied with government measures

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his cabinet have been under pressure these past days, as farmers and students across the country have taken to the streets in protest. This comes as Mitsotakis also prepares to pass a key marriage equality bill this month, and as the latest polls show a slight drop in support for New Democracy and the government. 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 these challenges and break down how they could impact the Mitsotakis government. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Strong public support for farmers adds to pressure on PM for more measuresWhy are farmers protesting across the EU and what can the bloc do about it?Students and police clash in Greece as debate rages over legalizing private universitiesHoly Synod warns of impact on family in letter to MPsAthens airport IPO attracts strong demand after two-year lull in EuropeAthens Airport IPO Caps String of Events Showing Greece Is BackBritish Museum director backs Parthenon Marbles loan planTurkey Israel: 'Seven arrested for passing information to Mossad'

After a proposal by Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, Greece is set to serve as the headquarters of the EU naval operation in the Red Sea against Iranian-backed Houthi militants dubbed operation Aspides. At the same time, Greece has also proposed taking command of the mission. Revecca Pedi, an associate professor of international relations at the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss this latest initiative from Athens, and break down the message it sends as Greece looks to take on more important and impactful roles in the region and within the EU. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:EU Red Sea operation HQ to be in LarissaEU naval mission to protect ships in Red Sea set to be launched on 19 FebruaryStudents and police clash in Greece as debate rages over legalizing private universitiesClashes erupt at Greek protest against education reformGreece hit record high green energy output last year

On Thursday European leaders will look to overcome growing resistance to further aid for Ukraine, with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban vowing to defy EU pressure to approve a four-year €50 billion aid package to the war torn country. EU support is seen as crucial to Ukraine’s war effort. John Psaropoulos, an independent journalist based in Athens and Al Jazeera's Southeast Europe correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis to look at the stakes for Ukraine and why Orban is insisting on this standoff. We also break down the view from Greece, with Prime Minister Mitsotakis reiterating this week that Athens remains committed to supporting Ukraine.Read John Psaropoulos’ latest here: Ukraine funding, Orban’s opposition set to dominate crucial EU summitYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece proposes command of EU naval mission in Red SeaEU aiming to launch Red Sea naval mission by mid-FebErdogan to Visit Egypt to Reboot Ties After Decade-Long Friction

In a major escalation in the Middle East crisis, three US service members were killed and dozens more injured in a drone strike on the Syrian-Jordanian border by the Iranian-backed Islamic Resistance. This comes as attacks on US personnel in Iraq and Syria have surged since October, and as Washington has been debating a full withdrawal from Syria. Amberin Zaman, Al-Monitor’s chief correspondent covering major stories on the Middle East and North Africa, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss this latest deadly attack, what it could mean for the region, and what a potential US withdrawal from Syria would mean for America’s partners on the ground - the Syrian Kurds - and for the fight against ISIS.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:U.S. troops killed, wounded in Jordan attack blamed on Iranian proxiesPentagon floats plan for its Syrian Kurd allies to partner with Assad against ISISAmerica Is Planning to Withdraw From Syria—and Create a DisasterUS opens F-35 window to AnkaraUS ready to welcome Turkey ‘back into F-35 family’ if S-400 issue is resolved

In 2019 the Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Constantinople and Alexandria recognised the independence of the newly formed Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Since then, Moscow has attempted to undermine not only the Ecumenical Patriarchate, but also the Patriarch of Alexandria, which claims exclusive jurisdiction over Africa and accuses the Russian church of meddling in the continent. Prof. George Demacopoulos joins Thanos Davelis to explore why Russia is trying to split the Orthodox Church in Africa, and explain why this should be viewed as part of a larger Russian project whereby Putin uses the church to advance his own global ambitions.Prof. Demacopoulos is the Fr. John Meyendorff & Patterson Family Chair of Orthodox Christian Studies at Fordham University. He is Co-Founding Director of Fordham’s Orthodox Christian Studies Center and Co-Founding Editor of the Journal of Orthodox Christian Studies.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Russia’s plan to seduce Christians in AfricaAlbanian appeals court rejects Beleri’s request to take oathHungary vows to defy EU ‘blackmail’ over Ukraine fundingBrussels threatens to hit Hungary’s economy if Viktor Orbán vetoes Ukraine aid

After over a year of delays, the Biden administration on Friday formally informed Congress of its intention to proceed with a deal to sell F-35 stealth fighter jets to Greece. At the same time, it also notified Congress of the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has described this move as an important milestone for Greece and for US-Greece relations. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis with the latest analysis from Athens as we look at what this means for Greece, US-Greece relations, and more.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:US advances fighter jet sale to Greece, Turkey; Congress likely to approveChair Cardin Welcomes Turkey’s Action on Sweden’s NATO Accession, Approves Sale of F-16s to Turkey, Expresses Concern on New Hungarian IntransigenceAthens irked by US delays in arms timetableCyprus offers measures to support estranged Turkish CypriotsBlock on Turkish Cypriot mixed marriages for citizenship lifted