The Greek Current

Athens will take center stage on Thursday as Turkey’s President Erdogan visits Greece’s capital to meet with Prime Minister Mitsotakis amid a sense of reserved optimism. While observers do not expect much movement on the thorny issues in the relationship, Athens is looking forward to a continuation of “calm waters” in the Aegean and to implementing a positive agenda. Tom Ellis, the editor in chief of Kathimerini’s English Edition, joins Thanos Davelis to break down what we should look out for ahead of Erdogan’s visit to Athens. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Waiting for ErdoganErdogan: International Court for all problemsArmament programs to be streamlinedCyprus in diplomatic shuttle in trying to get aid into GazaChristodoulides meets Egypt, Jordan leaders to discuss Gaza

This weekend at COP28 Prime Minister Mitsotakis stated that despite the “climate devastation” experienced this year “a new Greece is emerging” that will see renewables, where Greece had “one of the best performances of any European country,” take center stage. Nikos Tsafos, the chief energy advisor to the Prime Minister of Greece, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss this Greek success story and look at how renewable energy investments - from wind and solar to green islands - are changing Greece’s energy mix and redrawing the region’s energy map.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Mitsotakis at COP28: Despite climate devastation, a ‘new Greece is emerging’Poros to be Greece’s third ‘green’ island‘New Left’: the 11 MPs who left SYRIZA announce their partyGreece will make no concessions on its sovereign rights, Athens says ahead of Erdogan visitThe next steps after Erdogan’s visit

Exactly 200 years ago, President Monroe outlined what became known as the Monroe doctrine, a doctrine that framed US foreign policy for nearly a century. Just as Monroe was formulating this new policy, however, an unexpected event occurred: The Greek Revolution. Professor Aristotle Tziampiris, the author of the recent book The Monroe Doctrine and the Greek Revolution, joins Thanos Davelis on the 200 year anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine to look at how the Greek fight for independence captivated the American public, the role it played in the formulation of the Monroe Doctrine, and they ways in which the “Greek Fire” and the Monroe Doctrine set the framework that has come to define US-Greek relations for almost two centuries.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:The Monroe Doctrine and the Greek RevolutionWhat Joe Biden Can Learn from the Greek War of IndependenceCyprus and Chevron reach a deal to develop an offshore natural gas field, ending years of delaysFitch Upgrades Greece to 'BBB-'; Outlook StableFitch Ratings returns Greece to investment class

Henry Kissinger, the controversial former US National Security Advisor and Secretary of State, passed away on Wednesday, aged 100. He was both celebrated and reviled, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize while being roundly condemned by many as a war criminal. The regions and conflicts that Kissinger intervened in, leaving a dark legacy, include Cyprus, where the former Secretary of State normalized US appeasement of Turkey almost a half-century ago when he secretly backed Turkey’s invasion of the island. Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former Pentagon official, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss Kissinger’s legacy, particularly in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean, and look at the lessons it holds for policymakers today.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Henry Kissinger: Divisive diplomat who shaped world affairsHenry Kissinger’s Inflated ReputationHenry Kissinger Should Apologize for Serving Turkish ImperialismHenry Kissinger’s long history of appeasing dictatorshipsErdogan wants ‘new page’ with AthensUS ‘profoundly’ worried over Turkey’s financial links to Hamas

On Wednesday Greece filed a written statement with the Council of the European Union stating it will not support Albania’s EU accession process as long as the case of the imprisoned ethnic Greek mayor elect of Himare, Fredi Beleri, remains unresolved. The move comes as Greece has come under EU pressure over Albania. Athens has made it clear, however, that its stance on the Beleri case is about defending European principles as it has to do with respect for the rule of law. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis with the latest analysis on the diplomatic initiatives underway over the Beleri case.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Albania’s EU hopes hinge on Beleri case, Athens saysAthens under EU pressure over AlbaniaBeleri oath request ruling next weekBritish PM fuels diplomatic dispute with Greece over Parthenon sculpturesPMQs: Rishi Sunak accuses Greek PM of grandstandingGreece is a rising energy provider in SE Europe, says US envoyGas exports could quadruple

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s last minute cancellation of his meeting with Prime Minister Mitsotakis over the Parthenon Sculptures this week has caused a diplomatic row between Greece and the UK, with Athens calling Sunak’s decision “unprecedented” and “disrespectful.” Bruce Clark, a contributor to The Economist with a long expertise on Greece, the author of the recent book Athens, City of Wisdom, which dives into the story of Lord Elgin and the Parthenon Sculptures, and a member of The British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles (BCRPM), joins Thanos Davelis to discuss this latest move by Downing Street that is putting the issue of the Parthenon Sculptures back in the spotlight.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Britain’s pointless diplomatic faux pas with GreeceAthens accuses British PM Sunak of disrespect to Greeks as marbles row deepensGreece denies promising not to raise Parthenon Sculptures on UK visitSunak cancellation politically motivatedTurkey expects to ratify Sweden's NATO accession 'within weeks' - Swedish ministerErdogan to visit Budapest next month as Turkey and Hungary hold up Sweden’s membership in NATOAthens under EU pressure over Albania

In about two weeks Minister Mitsotakis and Turkish President Erdogan will meet in Athens, marking the third meeting in five months between the two leaders. While the frequency of their meetings and the de-escalation of tensions are positives, the absence of tensions or conflict does not mean normalization and peace. Constantinos Filis, the Director of the Institute of Global Affairs and an associate professor of international relations at the American College of Greece, joins Thanos Davelis to break down what we should expect from the upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Mitsotakis and President Erdogan in Athens, and look at what Turkey’s distancing from the West means for Greece.Read Constantinos Filis’ latest piece in Kathimerini: Ankara’s distancing and the challenge for AthensYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Silent anxiety before Erdogan visits AthensRishi Sunak snubs Greek PM in dispute over Elgin MarblesGreek PM slams Sunak as row over Elgin Marbles escalatesSunak cancels meeting with Mitsotakis in LondonTurkey’s exports of military-linked goods to Russia soar

This week Prime Minister Mitsotakis unveiled a recovery plan in wake of this summer’s deadly wildfires in Evros and catastrophic floods in Thessaly, outlining a series of initiatives to address the climate crisis. Expert Konstantina Karydi joins Thanos Davelis to discuss this plan and look at whether - despite the lack of critical investments across the globe when it comes to climate action and building resiliency - Greece is sending the message that it is ready to address the challenges posed by climate change.Konstantina Karydi is the Managing Director of the Athens international office of Resilient Cities Catalyst as well as Executive Vice President of Climate Change Hub Greece. She is also a member of the Senior Experts Committee of the UNDRR Making Cities Resilient 2030 Campaign. Konstantina is an active citizen and as a volunteer is helping young leaders to grow and new organizations to increase their impact, most recently as founding advisor to Ecogenia.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:PM unveils recovery plan in wake of Evros fires, Thessaly floodsGreek floods and fires expose Europe's frail climate defencesCOP28 Climate Summit in Dubai: What to ExpectSecond SYRIZA faction to become independent as main opposition disintegratesTurkey tells NATO that Sweden won't join by next week's meetingThanksgiving Talking Points from HALC

On Monday Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said Cyprus is fully ready to launch a maritime aid corridor for Gaza. Cyprus plans to use its port of Larnaca to gather international aid and send it on to Gaza, as it is one of the closest places in the EU to the Gaza Strip. Jack Parrock, Deutsche Welle’s EU correspondent who traveled to Larnaca last week to find out how this plan will work, joins Thanos Davelis to break down what it will take to get this humanitarian corridor up and running, and highlight how it’s putting a renewed spotlight on the strategic importance of Cyprus.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Getting humanitarian aid to Gaza by sea? Cyprus has a planCyprus’ president says his country is ready to ship aid to Gaza once a go-ahead is givenConcern in Athens over Turkish statementsTourism revenue up 15.2% to 18 billion euros, reports Bank of GreeceGreek economy seen growing by 2.9% next year on strong investment

While SYRIZA is embroiled in an internal crisis that has seen key politicians ditch the party and even contemplate creating a new political grouping in parliament, the latest opinion polls show the center left PASOK overtaking left-wing SYRIZA for second place. Tom Ellis, the editor in chief of Kathimerini’s English edition, joins Thanos Davelis to look at whether PASOK can build on this lead in the polls and take advantage of the crisis in SYRIZA to establish itself as Greece’s main opposition.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:PASOK is shown second in polls after 11 yearsΑρθρο του Ε. Βαρδουλάκη στην «Κ»: Μπορεί το ΠΑΣΟΚ;Cyprus president has invited foreign experts to help with Russian sanction evasion investigationsSYRIZA: ‘Umbrella’ hints at forming separate parliamentary group with ‘6+6’‘6+6’ faction signals break from SYRIZASYRIZA chief urges Achtsioglou-led faction to decide on political future