The Greek Current

It’s now been a couple of weeks since the NATO summit in Vilnius, where Turkey’s Erdogan was praised by other leaders - including President Biden - for lifting his objections to Sweden’s NATO membership bid. Once again, F-16 sales to Turkey were a top-of-the-agenda item ahead of Vilnius. Since the summit, while  there have been countless headlines declaring “deals” and discussing details of alleged deals, Sweden is still not a member of NATO and the administration has not secured the clearance of congressional holds for an F-16 sale to Turkey. Endy Zemenides, the Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, joins Thanos Davelis to review what we know post-Vilnius, and cut through all the noisy diplomacy.Read Endy Zemenides’ latest piece in Kathimerini: Cutting through noisy diplomacyYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:US Senator Menendez says he has not changed opposition to Turkey F-16 saleUS Senator calls for assurances for Greece, Cyprus in any upgrade of Turkish F-16sGreek and Turkish Cypriot leaders in joint appeal for information on missingGreek wildfires die down after burning for nearly two weeks

Earlier this week Greece celebrated 49 years since the restoration of democracy after seven years of military dictatorship. With the return of democracy, Greece began a new period of stability, one anchored in the West. This was evident a few years later when Greece joined the European Union. Since then, Greece has proven its democratic resilience time and again, especially in the midst of the decade-long financial crisis in the previous decade. Harris Mylonas, an associate professor of political science and international affairs at the George Washington Elliott School of International Affairs and the producer of the groundbreaking documentary about Andreas Papandreou and PASOK, “Searching for Andreas: Political Leadership in Times of Crisis”, joins Thanos Davelis to look at this historic moment and explore its legacy today.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:The Day Democracy Was Restored in Greece After the JuntaWildfire in Greece triggers explosions at an ammunition depot and the relocation of fighter jetsUS Senator Menendez says he has not changed opposition to Turkey F-16 saleUS Senator calls for assurances for Greece, Cyprus in any upgrade of Turkish F-16s

Following the meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Erdogan at the NATO summit, we’ve heard Mitsotakis talk of a new “bold agenda” in Greek-Turkish relations. As the Greek prime minister laid out, this agenda could include going to the International Court of Justice at the Hague to resolve the key disputes in the Aegean. Expert 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 his latest piece in Kathimerini in which he makes the case that going to the Hague is Greece’s best option.Read Constaninos Filis’ latest in Kathimerini here: Why the International Court is our best optionYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece sees some wildfire respite, though stubborn blazes rage onEU migration deal faces delays after talks snagWatchdog investigates EU border agency’s role after Greece boat disaster

As Greece faces a prolonged heatwave and battles wildfires across the country, the realities of rising temperatures and climate change have long been evident and are impacting every aspect of life. Steven Tagle joins Thanos Davelis to look at how climate change is impacting local communities in Greece, specifically the mastic producers on the Aegean island of Chios, who have been battered by high temperatures, unseasonable rains, and past wildfires, and break down how are they innovating to better prepare and cope for the impacts of climate change.Steven Tagle is a fellow from the Institute of Current World Affairs funded by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. He previously served as speechwriter for the US Embassy in Athens and as a Fulbright Fellow in Greece. Read Steven Tagles piece here: Mastic producers in Greece innovate as climate change threatens harvestYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Local communities confront the new reality of climate changePlane fighting wildfires in Greece crashes with two aboardThree days of mourning for pilots killed fighting fires in EviaTurkish authorities give permission for service at Sumela Monastery

Wildfires have continued to rage across Greece, with Prime Minister Mitsotakis saying on Monday that the country is “fighting a war” against the fires. Greece’s fire service capabilities have been stretched as new fires emerge amid a sweltering heatwave. In Rhodes, where a wildfire has cut across the island, the government and locals have mounted the largest ever island evacuation to move close to 19,000 people to safety. Evacuations have also taken place on Corfu and in other locations. Eleni Varvitsioti, the Financial Times correspondent for Greece and Cyprus based in Athens, joins Thanos Davelis with the latest update on the wildfires burning across Greece and the ongoing efforts to not only extinguish the flames, but rescue people in harm's way.Read Eleni Varvitsioti’s latest reports in the Financial Times:Repatriation flights begin for tourists stranded on RhodesGreece mounts mass evacuation from wildfire-hit RhodesScorching Europe struggles to adapt to near-record temperaturesYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Rhodes: ‘The Greek people and volunteers have been amazing’Rhodes blaze cannot be containedMenendez introduces favorable amendment for arms sales to CyprusErdogan makes talks difficult

This month Turkey’s President Erdogan finally ended his opposition to Sweden’s NATO membership bid after months of brinkmanship and threats, while this week saw him travel to the oil-rich Gulf in a bid to attract investment and bolster his country’s ailing economy. Prof. 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 break down how Erdogan’s real problem, and the reason behind his decision on Sweden’s NATO membership and his engagement with the Gulf, is the enormous economic challenge that Turkey is facing - much of it his own doing.Read Henri Barkey’s latest here: Calling Erdogan’s bluff on NATOYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Saudi Arabia buys Turkish drones during Erdogan’s visitUAE and Turkey sign multibillion-dollar agreementsGreece faces hottest July weekend in 50 years, forecaster says, as scores of wildfires rageWildfires in Greece burn for fifth day as another heatwave hitsTurkey to send three firefighting aircraft to GreeceThe EU has revealed its blueprint to curb migration

Firefighting aircraft and ground crews from other countries headed to Greece on Thursday to help battle wildfires that have intensified as southern Europe faces a prolonged heat wave. While firefighters have contained some of the wildfires near Athens, officials are on alert, warning that “the worst is yet to come,” as Southern Europe’s second heat wave in as many weeks brings extreme temperatures to Mediterranean countries. Derek Gatopoulos, a correspondent for the Associated Press who has been covering news in Greece for more than 25 years, joins Thanos Davelis with the latest updates on the wildfires, and to look at how Greece and Athens are coping with the intense heat wave.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Wildfires in Greece largely contained, new heatwave loomsHeatwaves to persist to month’s endGrid is seen holding, for nowUAE and Turkey sign multibillion-dollar agreementsSaudi Arabia buys Turkish drones during Erdogan’s visit

July 20th marks another black anniversary of Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus in 1974. 49 years later, the northern part of Cyprus remains illegally occupied. President Christodoulides recently expressed cautious optimism about efforts to resume talks, however, and Turkey’s desire to re-engage with the EU - as President Erdogan suggested at the NATO summit - puts the focus back on Cyprus. Endy Zemenides, the Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, joins Thanos Davelis to break down whether there is space for reunification talks to be revived and what role the UN, EU and the US can play.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:President exudes ''cautious optimism'' for Cyprus problem resolutionSecurity Council Press Statement on CyprusCyprus seeks to revive peace talks with Turkey over divided islandOfficial warns the worst is yet to comeNexans wins EuroAsia Interconnector contract

On Monday Russia pulled out of an agreement that had allowed Ukraine to export its grain by sea despite a wartime blockade, a deal seen as essential to keeping food flowing from Ukraine — a major breadbasket — to the wider world. Expert Max Bergmann joins Thanos Davelis to break down why Russia has decided to terminate this agreement, what’s at stake if the deal isn’t renewed, and whether Ukraine, Europe, and the US have a plan B ready. We also explore what efforts are in the works to deepen the West’s engagement with Ukraine - primarily on the NATO and EU level.Max Bergman is the director of the Center in Euro-Atlantic and Northern European Studies and the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, both at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and a former senior advisor in the U.S. State Department.Read Max Bergman’s latest here: The EU Isn’t Ready for Ukraine to JoinYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Russia killed off the Black Sea grain deal. What happens now?Russia pulls out of the Black Sea grain dealWildfires in Greece close highways and threaten an oil refinery, as the EU sends firefighting planesSettlements evacuated as wildfires spreadPresident exudes ''cautious optimism'' for Cyprus problem resolution

Last week, a day after meeting with Turkish President Erdogan at the NATO summit, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the promotion of a “bold agenda” in Greek-Turkish relations with the ultimate aim of bringing the issue of the delimitation of the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss this new agenda in Greek-Turkish relations, look at the difficult road leading to the Hague, and more. Read Vassilis Nedos’ latest here: The difficult road leading to The Hague‘Let’s face the future challenges squarely’You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Wildfires rage near Greek capital, houses damaged1,200 children evacuated from summer camp as blaze nearsAfter heat wave, wildfires force thousands to flee seaside resorts outside Greek capitalGreece to begin selling bank stakes this autumn-sources