The Greek Current

This Sunday supporters of SYRIZA, Greece’s second largest party, will head to the polls to select a new leader, as Stefanos Kasselakis, the surprise winner in the first round elections, faces Effie Achtsioglou in what’s expected to be a close showdown that will define the future of the party. As the race for who will take the reins of SYRIZA heats up, Greeks have begun to look more closely into Stefanos Kasselakis, who remains a largely unvetted newcomer on the political scene. Nikos Efstathiou, a journalist and author from Athens and the current Managing Editor at the magazine LiFO, joins me to discuss SYRIZA’s increasingly contentious leadership race and the impact Stefanos Kasselakis has had on Greece’s political scene.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:SYRIZA polarized ahead of final showdownCountdown to SYRIZA election showdownMitsotakis says achieving investment grade improves Greece’s borrowing costsMigrant flows surge in last two months

Last week the Biden administration imposed sanctions on five Turkish companies and a Turkish national, accusing them of helping Russia evade sanctions and supporting Moscow in its war against Ukraine. US officials have repeatedly pushed Turkey to crack down on Russian circumvention of sanctions, particularly when it comes to the export of chemicals, microchips and other products that can be used in Moscow's war effort. Expert Sinan Ciddi joins Thanos Davelis to look at this latest round of sanctions, which underscore that despite repeated warnings, Turkey continues to help fuel Russia’s war machine.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.Read Sinan Ciddi’s latest here:U.S. Sanctions Turkish Entities for Fueling Russia’s War MachineMr. Erdoğan in New York: A Transactional Foreign Policy Should be Repaid in KindYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Thousands of Greeks rally as state workers strike over labour law plansControversial labour law set to usher in radical changes to employment practicesCyprus and Chevron unite for Aphrodite gas field

On Wednesday Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis held a much anticipated meeting with Turkish President Erdogan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The two leaders agreed to continue working to deepen the positive climate in Greek-Turkish relations that has been established this year, laid out a roadmap of contacts for the coming months, and discussed issues of common interest such as migration and the climate crisis. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis to look at how the two leaders are expected to build on the positive atmosphere we’ve seen these past months, while looking ahead at what we can expect to see as part of this positive agenda. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Roadmap amid calm waters in the AegeanGreek, Turkish leaders to confirm improved climateMitsotakis-Erdogan: Keeping the process on a positive trackThe Greek-Turkish dialogue and the Cyprus issueNagorno-Karabakh: thousands protest in Armenia in wake of ceasefire dealAzerbaijan halts Karabakh offensive after ceasefire deal with Armenian separatistsThe U.S. Keeps Failing Armenians in Nagorno-KarabakhClimate change made storm Daniel far more likely and intense, scientists say

As the week kicked off at the UN in New York, Turkish President Erdogan sat with PBS NewsHour for a one on one interview, where he talked about Turkey’s relations with the US, with Greece, the state of human rights in his country, and his ties to Putin’s Russia. Aside from his outbursts at journalist Amna Nawaz over her questions on human rights, Erdogan also raised eyebrows with his statements on Russia, which he said he trusts just as much as the West, and his comment that Senator Bob Menendez isn’t familiar with Turkey after a question about Congress and the potential sale of F-16s. Endy Zemenides, the Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss this interview and break down what else we need to look out for when it comes to Hellenic issues at the UNGA this week.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkey’s Erdogan says he trusts Russia ‘just as much as I trust the West’Mitsotakis-Erdogan: Keeping the process on a positive trackCyprus talks to be discussed on sidelines of UN assembly in New YorkChristodoulides' UN call: A bold push for Cyprus reunificationAzerbaijan launches attack in Nagorno-Karabakh, announces ‘evacuation’ of Armenian populationNagorno-Karabakh: death toll rises as latest violence condemned by Russia and USAzerbaijan launches operation against Nagorno-Karabakh and demands surrenderGreek, Turkish leaders to confirm improved climate

A new political season has kicked off in Greece this month as voters went to the polls to elect a new leader for Greece’s main opposition party, SYRIZA, on Sunday, while Prime Minister Mitsotakis outlined his government’s priorities at the Thessaloniki International Fair in the wake of the devastating wildfires in August and the deadly floods in Thessaly. Amid these developments, voters are also preparing for local elections which are on the horizon. Yannis Palaiologos, a journalist at-large with Kathimerini, joins Thanos Davelis to look at the new political season unfolding in Greece, from the battle over the future leadership of SYRIZA to the Mitsotakis government’s efforts to set a new agenda in the wake of wildfires and floods.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:SYRIZA: Kasselakis, Achtsioglou headed to a runoffSYRIZA’s Kasselakis, Achtsioglou urge voters to return for runoff next SundayPM emphasizes reforms in TIF keynote speechMitsotakis says no reshuffle aheadFredi Beleri’s request for release rejected once againErdoğan threatens to ‘part ways’ from EU after critical European Parliament report

This week Washington DC turned its attention to Nagorno Karabakh - or Artsakh - once again, with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee holding a hearing on the failure to break Azerbaijan’s genocidal blockade of Artsakh that has left some 120,000 Armenians on the brink of starvation. Senator Menendez, the chairman of the Committee, was emphatic about the urgency of the situation in Artsakh, stating, “as we sit here today with the lives of so many people hanging in the balance, time is of the essence.” Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former Pentagon official, joins Thanos Davelis to explain how US diplomacy has failed Armenians in Artsakh, and look to the past for analogies that could guide policymakers looking to support the people of Artsakh and end this blockade.Read Michael Rubin’s latest: Anatomy Of Genocide: How The State Department Inadvertently Green-Lighted War On ArmeniansWhat Is the Proper Analogy for Artsakh: Crimea or Kosovo?You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Senate Hearing: Assessing The Crisis In Nagorno-KarabakhCyprus holds military drill with France, Italy and Greece to bolster security in east MediterraneanUS sanctions 5 Turkish firms in broad Russia action on over 150 targets

For years, the US has had an unshakable, yet unreasonable assumption: that Ankara is a normal ally. Washington has operated from this point of view even in the face of contradictory evidence, and has looked to avoid public disputes while pretending that disagreements are trivial. Instead, as Prof. Henri Barkey argues in Foreign Affairs, the US needs to meet Erdogan’s provocative unpredictability with consistency and firmness. Henri Barkey, the Cohen Professor of International Relations at Lehigh University and Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Thanos Davelis to explain why Washington needs a new approach to dealing with Turkey and President Erdogan, and why now is a unique opportunity to change the relationship dramatically. Read Henri Barkey’s latest in Foreign Affairs: Erdogan the SurvivorYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:A billion euros for ThessalyLong-term economic effects of storm emerge as waters recedeUS says it expects Albania to respect due process in Beleri caseBeleri case referred to trial

Days after Storm Daniel passed through Greece, Thessaly - Greece’s agricultural heartland - is still under water, with locals describing apocalyptic scenes. With the plain accounting for 25 percent of Greece’s agricultural production, the threat of shortages and price hikes now looms large. On top of that, with the waters still high, there are now warnings that this could turn into a major health hazard. In the midst of this catastrophe, Greece has announced emergency relief measures and is turning to its EU partners for aid. Nektaria Stamouli, Politico’s Eastern Mediterranean correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis to assess the scope of the damage in Thessaly following Storm Daniel, and look at the questions this latest crisis raises about the challenges that lie ahead for Greece.Read Nektaria Stamouli’s latest here: Supercharged storm wrecks Greece’s breadbasket for years to comeYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Authorities on standby for potential disease outbreakEither we get serious or we will sinkSearchers race to recover bodies in Libyan city where 5,100 died in flooding after 2 dams collapsedLibya Buries Dead in Collective Graves as Estimated Storm Toll Tops 6,000Libya turmoil made Derna flooding even more deadlyDeath toll in Libya’s Derna flooding could reach 20,000: MayorEU chief announces major review saying the bloc should grow to over 30 members

Mastic - a unique product from the Greek island of Chios - has been at the heart of the island’s economy for centuries, linking it - and Greece - to the rest of the world, particularly the Middle East. Mastic found on Chios is used extensively throughout the Middle East, propelling trade and cultural links between Greece and the Arab world for centuries. As Greece takes steps to play a much more central role in bringing together countries in the region, mastic trade and the connections it fosters show us that the foundations for this are already in place. Sean Mathews, an Athens based journalist covering the region, joins Thanos Davelis to look at how mastic trade not only serves as a bridge between Greece and the Middle East, but also reflects the changing fortunes of the region.Read Sean Mathews' latest here: Chios, the Greek island fuelling the Arab world's sweet toothYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:EU ready to weigh into Greek recovery effortSpecter of shortages looms in wake of Thessaly floodsG20 summit: Transport project to link India to Middle East, Europe unveiledIndia's economic corridor to Europe via Saudi, UAE: a win for US, West Asia

As the US-Greece partnership reaches new heights, it is also touching on all aspects of both societies, and one of the areas where the US and Greece are working together is to advance the rights of persons with disabilities. This was the focus of US Special Adviser Sara Minkara’s latest trip to Thessaloniki. Sara Minkara, the US Special Advisor on International Disability Rights, and Chrysella Lagaria, the co - founder and CEO of Black Light, a Social Cooperative Enterprise with a mission to improve the daily lives of people with visual impairments and act as a major stakeholder for their work integration, join Thanos Davelis to discuss the importance of advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities, look at the the key challenges Greece still faces, and explore where the two countries can work together to achieve the goal of full inclusion and empowerment.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Special Advisor on International Disability Rights Minkara Travel to GreeceRace against time amid destructionGreek PM under attack over handling of Storm Daniel disaster responseThe death toll from floods in Greece has risen to 15 after 4 more bodies foundTurkey 'seriously upset' over Washington linking F-16 sales to Sweden’s NATO membershipSweden's NATO accession and Turkey's bid to buy F-16 jets should be kept separate, Erdogan says