The Greek Current

The wars in Ukraine and in the Middle East have highlighted not only Greece’s role, but specifically the important role the naval base at Souda Bay - often described as the “crown jewel” of US-Greece military cooperation - plays in the Eastern Mediterranean. As Souda Bay takes center stage amid this regional instability, Steven Tagle joins Thanos Davelis to look at how the oldest US military installation in Greece is not only strengthening the NATO alliance and contributing to regional security and stability, but is also providing Greece and the US with opportunities to deepen their decades-long security cooperation, giving meaning to the catchphrase “Stronger Together”.Read Steven Tagle’s latest here: Amid regional instability, the oldest US military installation in Greece gets an upgradeYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece-China relations ‘mutually beneficial,’ PM saysGreece sending humanitarian aid to Gaza on MondayGreece working with UN to send aid to GazaChristodoulides discusses humanitarian corridor to Gaza with US official

The Athenian coastline - known as the Athens Riviera - is quickly emerging as a real estate hotspot, attracting both high end Greek and foreign investors, digital nomads, and tourists. A recent special report in Kathimerini has even called it the “El Dorado” of real estate as the area - despite having some of the most expensive real estate prices in Greece - remains an investment opportunity, especially when compared to other similar cities and coastlines across Europe. Nikos Roussanoglou, a journalist with over two decades of experience at Kathimerini covering the economy, with a focus that includes Greece's business environment, technology, and housing market, joins Thanos Davelis to look at this real estate boom in the Athens Riviera and break down what it means for the market, for the city, and for Greeks.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Αθηναϊκή Ριβιέρα: Το «Ελ Ντοράντο» του real estateCyprus playing pivotal role in evacuation plansUS targets China, Turkey and UAE in latest Russia sanctions

Turkey marked its 100th year as a republic on October 29th, and Turks have been debating the country's evolution and how it measures up to the vision of the deeply secular Kemal Ataturk. While celebrations focused on the previous 100 years, it is also clear that President Erdogan’s ambition is to usher in another century forged more in his own image. Ryan Gingeras, a professor in the Department of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School and an expert on Turkish, Balkan, and Middle East history, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss this centenary and its broader implications, both within and outside Turkey.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Erdogan’s dreams of eclipsing Ataturk unfulfilled as Turkish republic turns 100Turkey’s path of no return, away from the WestEclipsing Turkey's centenary, Erdogan tells pro-Palestinian rally: Israel is occupierPM Mitsotakis meets with SYRIZA leader Kasselakis in first encounterCyprus plans to send humanitarian aid directly to Gaza by ship, where UN personnel would receive it

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen vowed to bring the economies of the Western Balkans and the European Union 'closer' on Monday as she began a four-day tour of the region. Her plan includes a €6 billion investment package, to be delivered on condition the countries make reforms to open up their economies, overcome their conflicts and modernize their administrations. Professor James Ker-Lindsay, who has written extensively on the EU, the Balkans and Southeast Europe, joins Thanos Davelis to break down whether this is a window of opportunity  to reinvigorate the EU accession process for the Western Balkans.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Von der Leyen vows to bring Western Balkan and EU economies 'closer' as four-day visit startsEU to help Western Balkans reforms with 6 billion euro package - von der LeyenCyprus talks to EU, neighbours on humanitarian corridor for GazaChristodoulides' bold plan for Gaza welcomed by World LeadersGreece turning into energy and technology hub

With the war in Ukraine on one side, and the outbreak of war in the Middle East on the other, Greece has become a strategic hub, and is practically the only reliable US partner in a region that is in constant turmoil. Whether it’s the port of Alexandroupolis in northern Greece, or Souda Bay in the south, Greece’s geopolitical value is becoming more and more tangible. At the same time, as Greece takes on a more dynamic role as a strategic hub, it’s also stepping up in the diplomatic arena. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis to look at how the turmoil in Ukraine and the Middle East is putting the spotlight on Greece.Read Vassilis Nedos’ latest here: Greece serving as hub between two warsYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Athens monitoring Erdogan’s movesGreece Boosting Plan to Export Green Energy To Israel via Cyprus

Today we’re heading to Washington, DC, where we’ve seen a number of key developments throughout the week, from the relaunch of the Congressional Hellenic Israel Alliance Caucus to US lawmakers demanding that the State Department use all tools available to the US to hold the Turkish government accountable for supporting the operations of the terror group Hamas. Endy Zemenides and Sinan Ciddi join Thanos Davelis to break down the significance of both the relaunch of the CHIA caucus and Washington’s steps to crack down on the Turkey-Hamas nexus.Endy Zemenides is the Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council.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:Why Erdogan Is Unlikely to Cut Ties With HamasBipartisan group targets Turkey over its ties to HamasGreece, Turkey close to migration dealFrance's Macron: looking to build 'humanitarian coalition' regarding Gaza, in talks with Cyprus and GreeceCyprus gears up for potential Middle East evacuations of over 100,000 people

Last week Standard & Poor’s became the first among the “big three” rating agencies to upgrade Greece to investment grade since the country’s debt crisis. Securing investment grade has been a key target for the Mitsotakis government, and the upgrade was hailed as "a great achievement and a game changer" for Greece. A few days later, in another vote of confidence in Greece, Italy’s UniCredit offered to buy Greece’s stake in Alpha Bank, marking the first investment in a Greek lender by another European bank since before the financial crisis. Alex Patelis, the chief economic adviser to Greece’s Prime Minister, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss the significance of these latest developments for Greece and outline the government’s next goals when it comes to the economy.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:S&P raises Greece to investment grade for first time in more than a decadeGreece’s Great Economic ComebackUniCredit strikes first deal of Andrea Orcel era with Greek tie-upBipartisan group targets Turkey over its ties to HamasSarbanes won’t seek re-election to US Congress in 2024

This year the Biden Administration launched the American Climate Corps, with the ambitious goal of putting more than 20,000 young people on career pathways in the fields of clean energy, conservation and climate resilience. At the same time, a group of Greeks, inspired by the AmeriCorps model of civil service, have embarked on a mission to become Greece’s national climate corps. The organization is called Ecogenia, and it is quickly gaining the attention of not only Greeks, but the US and the EU as well. Lia Papazoglou and Erika Spagakou, the co-founders of Ecogenia, join Thanos Davelis to talk about Ecogenia and its mission, and explore how they are mobilizing young people in climate action projects across Greece.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Launches American Climate Corps to Train Young People in Clean Energy, Conservation, and Climate Resilience Skills, Create Good-Paying Jobs and Tackle the Climate CrisisGreece: Calling all young climate championsTurkey's Erdogan says Hamas is not terrorist organisation, cancels trip to IsraelMediator no more: Erdoğan takes aim at Israel, backing Hamas ‘freedom’ fightersSouda base key to US contingency plans

On Monday Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis traveled to Israel, where he met with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and made it clear that he was there “not only as an ally, but as a true friend,” stressing that the Hamas attack on October 7th was “truly horrific.” This visit came on the heels of the Cairo Peace Summit on the Palestinian issue, where Mitsotakis reiterated the need for a viable political solution. As Mitsotakis traveled to Israel, Turkey’s President Erdogan decided to finally submit Sweden’s NATO accession protocols for approval by Turkey’s parliament. 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 discuss the significance of Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ recent visit to Israel, and break down Erdogan’s decision to finally move Sweden’s NATO bid forward.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:PM repeats unwavering support for IsraelGreece, a useful voice in the regionGreece extends power bill subsidies for households, farmers in NovemberSYRIZA strife reshuffling political packThree senior SYRIZA figures warn of party disintegration

From Egypt to Brussels, governments are feeling the impact of the war in Gaza following the Hamas terror attacks against Israel on October 7th. While we saw Turkey try to take on a mediating role early on, it has shifted to openly criticizing both Israel and the US, leading many to wonder if President Erdogan is making a U-turn on efforts to mend relations with Israel. At the same time, European countries have boosted their security amid concerns that violence could spread to their capitals. The war in Gaza also raises concerns in Europe about new waves of migration. Wolfango Piccoli, co-founder of risk analysis company Teneo with a long experience in advising financial institutions and corporations on political developments in Europe, joins Thanos Davelis to look into Erdogan’s hardening stance vis-a-vis Israel and the US, and break down the view from Europe as the conflict in Gaza unfolds.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkey's Erdogan calls on Israel to stop its attacks on Gaza 'amounting to genocide'Belgium unveils new security measures, justice chief after Brussels attackEU seeks answers to rising security challenges as Israel-Hamas war fuels new concernsHow Poland’s Election Results Could Reshape EuropeMitsotakis, Netanyahu meet in JerusalemUniCredit strikes first deal of Andrea Orcel era with Greek tie-upUniCredit Offers to Buy Greece’s Stake in Alpha Bank