The Greek Current

A firefight between Serb paramilitaries and Kosovo police at the end of September marked one of the worst episodes of violence in the country in years, raising questions about efforts to settle the Kosovo issue and whether future flare-ups of violence are on the horizon in the Western Balkans. Dimitar Bechev, a research fellow at Carnegie Europe, where he focuses on Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe and a lecturer at Oxford’s School of Global and Area Studies, joins Thanos Davelis to look at this latest escalation of tensions, explore what it means for the ongoing Kosovo-Serbia negotiations, and break down what’s at stake for the wider region.Read Dimitar Bechev’s latest here: Analysis: Are Kosovo and Serbia on the brink of war?The EU Cannot Give Up on Serbia and KosovoYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Poland, Hungary threaten to derail EU leaders’ gathering in GranadaHungary, Poland rail at EU migration policy as bloc leaders meetAthens tourism’s record year

Local elections are taking place on Sunday in Greece, and Prime Minister Mitsotakis has been on the road campaigning for New Democracy candidates across the country. This is seen as the first big test for the government after Prime Minister Mitsotakis was overwhelmingly re-elected this summer, and comes after a few months of heavy criticism over its handling of multiple crises - from wildfires to floods. It’s also the first test for Stefanos Kasselakis, the new leader of SYRIZA, Greece’s main opposition. Tom Ellis, the editor in chief of Kathimerini English Edition, joins Thanos Davelis to look at what these elections mean for Prime Minister Mitsotakis, SYRIZA’s new leader, and the country. Read Tom Ellis’ latest in Kathimerini: An early test for the governmentYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Nothing ‘simple’ about local government voteU.S. Jet Shoots Down Turkish Drone Over SyriaU.S. F-16 shoots down Turkish drone flying over American troops in SyriaU.S. shoots down armed drone flown by NATO ally TurkeyGreek feta makers reel from historic floods

Heatwaves around the Mediterranean - from Spain to Greece - have damaged olive harvests, with recent reports indicating that Europe has almost run out of local olive oil supplies. For its part, Greece- a key exporter of high quality extra virgin olive oil to the rest of the world - is expected to produce a third less than last year, and consumers are already experiencing significant price hikes on a product that is seen as essential in every Greek home. Vasilis Frantzolas, an olive oil seminar teacher and taster and the publisher of the book "Modern Techniques for Olive Growing and Production of Quality Olive Oil", joins Thanos Davelis to look at the scope of the crisis facing the olive oil industry today, break down what these shortages and inevitable price hikes mean for countries like Greece, and explore whether climate change is putting the future of this ancient industry at risk.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Europe’s olive oil supply running out after drought – and the odd hailstormMajor olive oil heist in Halkidiki as prices surgeTurkey's Fidan declares all PKK, YPG facilities in Syria, Iraq as 'legitimate targets'Turkey threatens to expand strikes in Syria, IraqAnkara tables old energy proposal undermining existing framework on Cyprus

Azerbaijan’s military offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh last month has seen discussions of war yet again echo across Turkey’s media landscape. As in 2020, pundits on Turkish television delighted in the use of Turkish-made weapons by Azerbaijan, whose victory is greeted as yet another triumph of the Turkish defense industry. This has put the spotlight on Turkey’s strong militarist tendencies, which, as some argue, now perhaps more than ever lie at the heart of Turkish domestic and foreign policy. 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 look at the trajectory of Turkish militarism and how it increasingly impacts Turkey’s perceptions of affairs abroad.Read Ryan Gingeras’ latest in War On The Rocks: Testing The Trajectory Of Turkish MilitarismYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece is a ‘vital conduit’ for the WestPM rolls up sleeves for regional pollsMitsotakis continues nationwide campaign ahead of local and regional elections

With 2023 seeing a spike in arrivals on Europe’s shores and borders, migration is once again the pressing  issue across the continent. The European Commission’s vice-president, Margaritis Schinas, has urged member states to finalize a crucial deal over migration reform, telling ministers that a unified plan would be a means of fighting back against a rising tide of populism and smuggling networks. As the bloc looks to finalize a deal on migration policy, Greece is also making the case for Europe to revamp the EU-Turkey migrant deal from 2016. Alexandra Voudouri, Kathimerini’s Brussels correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis to look at how a surge in migrant arrivals is impacting European politics, and explore whether a deal is finally around the corner for the EU’s flagship migration reform.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:EU fails to agree changes to migration laws as Germany and Italy clashGerman-Italian rift thwarts EU deal on new rules to deal with migration crisesAthens wants to revamp EU-Turkey migrant dealComplications in reaching migration dealCyprus hails Moody’s two-notch credit rating upgrade bringing the country into investment gradeTurkish planes raid Kurdish targets in Iraq after terror attack in AnkaraTurkey: Two officers injured in blast outside interior ministry

The broad consensus today is that US-Greece relations are at an all time high. As the two countries deepen their ties, and as Greece takes on a more active role in the region as a key player, many are arguing that the “sky is the limit” when it comes to where the relationship could go. This was the focus of a recent policy paper Katerina Sokou wrote for ELIAMEP, titled US-Greece Relations: Capitalizing on a Generational High. Katernia Sokou joins Thanos Davelis to explore how both countries can capitalize on the progress made so far to take this critical relationship to new heights.Katerina Sokou is the Theodore Couloumbis Research Fellow on “Greek-American Relations” at ELIAMEP. She is also the Washington, DC correspondent and columnist for Kathimerini, and a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center.Read Katerina Sokou’s policy paper here: Greece-US relations: Capitalizing on a generational highYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Mitsotakis: EU needs ‘to determine on own terms who enters’ blocErdogan says Menendez resignation from Senate committee boosts Turkey’s bid to acquire F-16sMenendez ouster improves odds for F-16 sale to Turkey, top Republican saysCardin may track Menendez on Saudi pact, Turkey F-16s as panel chairNew US Senate foreign relations chair will look at Turkish F-16 deal

Greece’s big economic success over the last years has been tourism, and, as tourists flock to Greece, so is foreign money. This is also coinciding with an increase in Greek homes going to foreign buyers, and in homeowners choosing to put their homes and apartments on platforms like Airbnb. As a result, average Greek property prices and rent have shot up, and many young Greeks fear that homeownership may be out of reach at a time when Greece is also facing a long-term demographic challenge. John Psaropoulos, an independent journalist based in Greece and Al Jazeera's southeast Europe correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis to look at how Greece’s success story, tourism, could also be contributing to Greece’s demographic challenge.Read John Psaropoulos’ latest article here: Tourism’s dark side: Are those who love Greece killing it?You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Homes flooded as Storm Elias hits battered Volos in central GreeceGreece and Turkey seal mini migration pact

Earlier this month at the G20 summit the US and the EU backed an ambitious plan to build an economic corridor linking Europe with the Middle East and India via rail and sea. Greece is set to play an important geostrategic role on this corridor, as Greek ports would serve as the gateway into Europe. The announcement at the G20 summit followed a trip that India’s Prime Minister Modi made to Greece in late August for the launch, as Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis put it, of the two countries’ “strategic partnership.” Dr. Spyros Economides, an Associate Professor in International Relations and European Politics at the London School of Economics and Deputy Director of the Hellenic Observatory, joins Thanos Davelis to look into India’s new “silk road”, Greece’s important role in it, and its growing ties with India.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece on India’s ‘silk road’G20: EU and US back trade corridor linking Europe, Middle East and IndiaA new relationship that’s 2,500 years oldCyprus says Lebanon needs EU aid to deal with migration crisisNagorno-Karabakh: More than 40,000 refugees flee to Armenia'I left to stay alive': Nagorno-Karabakh empties of ethnic Armenians

In 2021, despite warnings about items from its collections being sold by private persons, the British Museum chose not to view the matter “with much alarm.” This summer it became known that more than 2,000 items were stolen from the British Museum over a long period of time. This undoubtedly raises questions about the safety of countless artifacts, and has some asking whether it will affect the demand for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures. Angelos Chaniotis, a professor of ancient history and Classics at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, joins Thanos Davelis to look at what this crisis means for the British Museum, and explore whether it could impact efforts aimed at reuniting the Parthenon Sculptures.Read Prof. Angelos Chaniotis’ latest article in Kathimerini: The Parthenon Sculptures – now that the British Museum has lost its charmYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Strengthening the US-Greece security relationshipGreece is planning a major regularization program for migrants to cope with labor crunchSeeking migration deal with Turkey

Reports indicate that after a number of delays Greece can expect movement on its request to purchase F-35 fighter jets in the coming weeks, with the Biden administration expected to send a formal notification to Congress. At the same time, October is shaping up to be a crucial month for the issue of the potential sale of F-16s to Turkey, as the US will be watching to see if Turkey’s Parliament, which is set to reconvene in October, will approve Sweden’s NATO membership bid. Lena Argiri, the DC correspondent for ERT - the Greek public broadcasting company, joins Thanos Davelis with the latest reports from Washington as we look at what to expect in the coming weeks on the F-35s for Greece and the F-16 saga with Turkey. We also look back at the UNGA, recapping the key takeaways from a packed week for both Greece and Cyprus.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Εξοπλιστικά: «Ξεκλειδώνει» η πώληση των F-35 στην Ελλάδα – Μήνας εξελίξεων ο ΟκτώβριοςGreece’s leftist Syriza gets new leader: An ex-bankerPolitical neophyte Stefanos Kasselakis elected new leader of Greece’s main opposition Syriza partyCentral Greece braces for onslaught of Storm Elias