The Greek Current

Today marks 109 years since the Armenian genocide began. With commemorations taking place across the world, there is a renewed fear that the lessons of “Never Again” have been forgotten following Azerbaijan’s attack on Nagorno Karabakh and the subsequent mass exodus of over 100,000 Armenians from the region in what has been described as ethnic cleansing. Aram Hamparian, the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America, joins Thanos Davelis to talk about the very real threats facing Armenians in the Caucasus today, and to look at what steps the West - particularly the US - need to take to give meaning to the words “Never Again”. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Armenians fear new war with Azerbaijan despite talk of peaceArmenian victims group asks International Criminal Court to investigate genocide claimBipartisan, Bicameral Coalition of U.S. Legislators Call for American Leadership to Secure Justice for Artsakh and the Armenian GenocideGreek top court bars far-right Spartiates party from EU election raceGreece draws 3 bln euros from 30-year bond amid huge demand

Changes to Greece’s Golden Visa scheme are set to kick in at the end of the summer. This will see increases in the minimum amount needed to invest in order to secure a residence permit in an effort to tackle the country’s housing crisis. This move comes as golden visa programs are being phased out or shut down around Europe, and as housing has become a hot political issue. Nikos Roussanoglou, a journalist with 23 years of experience at Kathimerini covering the economy, joins Thanos Davelis to look at what these new changes will mean, and whether we are seeing the beginning of the end of the golden visa scheme.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Extra rules for Golden VisaGolden Visa Programs, Once a Boon, Lose Their LusterGreece tightens Golden Visa rulesGolden Visa demand growsRise of house prices continuesNorth Macedonia to elect president after campaign focused on EU membershipGreece plans early repayment of eurozone bailout loans this year

Investments in Greece have shot up over the past years, with the country outperforming its Eurozone partners when it comes to the pace with which it is attracting and increasing investments. Despite this positive picture, there are a number of myths around investments in Greece, especially when it comes to real estate and the Golden Visa scheme. Michael Arghyrou, the head of the Council of Economic Advisors for Greece’s Finance Ministry and a professor in Economics at the University of Piraeus, joins Thanos Davelis to bust some of these myths and look at how investments are transforming Greece’s economy. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Δώδεκα μύθοι και μία αλήθεια για τις επενδύσειςSun, Sea and Exports Give South Europe Reason to Feel SmugGreece will not compromise defense, spokesman says following FT reportGreece and Spain under pressure to provide Ukraine with air defence systemsIraq, Turkey to elevate security, economic ties after Erdogan visit

Since emerging from its international bailouts and a decade-long economic crisis, the Greek economy is now surging, outperforming its eurozone partners with its economy expected to grow nearly 3% this year. Despite this positive outlook, there are key challenges ahead, as some economies in the eurozone have slowed down, and many Greeks hurt by the crisis are still struggling. Nikos Vettas, the General Director of the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research and Professor of Economics at the Athens University of Economics and Business, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss this economic rebound and explore the challenges ahead.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greek economy surges after decade of painAs economy rebounds, Greece will wrap up bank sales this year, finance minister saysRapprochement with Turkey has reduced illegal migration flows, Mitsotakis saysHamas leader to visit Turkey for talks with ErdoganHamas Leader to Meet With Erdogan in Turkey

Following Iran’s latest attack on Israel over the weekend Defense Minister Nikos Dendias said that Greece plans to develop a defense system similar to Israel’s Iron Dome aimed at safeguarding the country against airborne threats. Meanwhile, while Iran was also the focus of a summit in Brussels, EU leaders also highlighted relations with Turkey, linking them to progress on the Cyprus issue. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s defense and diplomatic editor, joins Thanos Davelis to explore this plan for a Greek Iron Dome, discuss the view from Athens following Iran’s attack on Israel, and look at the key takeaways from the EU summit on Cyprus.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Athens seeks air defense system like Iron DomeTurkish threats over marine parksPM highlights Middle East crisis, Euro-Turkish relations at European Council SummitCyprus President optimistic on EU-Turkey talksTurkey-EU relations fracture over Cyprus connectionMitsotakis to meet Erdogan on May 13 in AnkaraEU to tighten Iran sanctions after Israel attack

Back in February, the readout from the 5th US-Greece strategic dialogue saw the US and Greece stress the importance of integrating youth in climate change mitigation and resilience, including through a youth corps exchange program that links the California Conservation Corps with Ecogenia in Greece. Thanos Davelis caught up with Larry Notheis, the Chief Deputy Director at the California Conservation Corps, on the sidelines of the “Our Ocean” conference in Athens to look at how the California Conservation Corps model can be applied in Greece, and how these partnerships can make a difference in protecting the oceans, preventing and fighting wildfires, and more. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:The First Ecogenia Social Service Program Launched in LitochoroUS embassy to cooperate with local environmental protection organizationJoint Statement on the U.S.-Greece 5th Strategic DialogueUnions in Greece call widespread strikes, seeking a return to bargaining rights axed during bailoutsGreece planning air defense system inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, says minister 

The memoirs of former German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble were recently released in Germany. As expected, Greece features heavily. All the key moments of the crisis and its main actors are sketched in his memoirs, from the times Grexit was genuinely on the table, to his dealings with prime ministers Papandreou, Samaras, and Tsipras, and finance ministers Papaconstantinou, Venizelos, and Varoufakis. Xenia Kounalaki, a journalist and weekly columnist at Kathimerini, which acquired exclusive rights of publishing excerpts from the book in Greek, joins Thanos Davelis for an inside look into the Greek financial crisis through the lens of one of its main protagonists. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:The Greek crisis through Schaeuble’s memoirsParis 2024 Olympics torch lit in ancient OlympiaGreece becomes first European country to ban bottom trawling in marine parks

Last week thought leaders, politicians, experts and the business community gathered in Delphi in Greece for the 9th Delphi Economic Forum. The Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC) had an important presence there as well, leading discussions on the role of the diaspora, the importance of Cyprus, the Middle East post October 7th, and the future direction of American foreign policy given US elections in November. Endy Zemenides, HALC’s Executive Director, joins Thanos Davelis to recap the main takeaways from last week’s Delphi Economic Forum in Greece.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Delphi Economic Forum IXGreece to spend €780 mln to protect marine biodiversity, PM saysGreece now on ‘right path,’ says Stournaras

Reports indicate that a new flotilla to Gaza is being prepared out of Turkey. 14 years ago we saw a similar move take place, when the attempt to send the Mavi Marmara flotilla to Gaza led to a diplomatic crisis. Rich Goldberg, a senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies with a deep expertise in sanctions policy who previously served on the White House National Security Council, joins Thanos Davelis to look at why we need to be paying attention to this new flotilla set to depart Turkey, which has the potential to spark another diplomatic crisis.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkish Organizations Ready Flotilla to Ignite Tensions With IsraelEU Commissioner Schinas hails bloc’s new migration lawsEU approves major overhaul of migration rulesGreece can serve as entry point for energy to the north, PM says‘Greece is redrawing energy map,’ says US ambassador

Years after its collapse in Iraq and Syria at the hands of a US-led coalition, it looks like ISIS is making a comeback. As reports indicate, ISIS has been expanding its presence in Syria, attacking regime soldiers, civilians, and the US-backed Kurdish-led SDF. An underreported element of this story is Turkey’s role in the revival of the Islamic State. Nadine Maenza joins Thanos Davelis to look at what a resurgent ISIS means for the region, particularly in the autonomous zone in north east Syria, and break down why we need to put the spotlight on Turkey’s role in this ISIS comeback.Nadine Maenza is the President of the IRF Secretariat, an international organization focused on building infrastructure to support the religious freedom movement globally. She also serves as a Global Fellow at the Wilson Center, and previously served as chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Worrying signs exist that IS growing stronger in SyriaSyrian Kurdish commander says resolve of US-led anti-ISIS coalition weakeningNadine Maenza on Turkey’s role in IS growing strongerGreece launches ‘free’ holidays for tourists who fled 2023 Rhodes wildfiresGreece’s F-35 deal moves forward

Greece’s government just announced the creation of two new marine parks – in the Ionian and Aegean seas. The move comes a week before Athens is set to host the 9th Our Ocean Conference on April 16 and 17, which will see key stakeholders not only put a spotlight on issues related to the protection of the seas, but also present a series of concrete proposals. Giorgos Lialios, a journalist at Kathimerini covering issues related to the environment, joins Thanos Davelis to talk about the new marine parks Greece is creating, look into the upcoming Our Oceans Conference, and more.Read Giorgos Lalios’ latest for Kathimerini: Greece commits to protection of its seasYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:The losing battle against Greece’s tumbling birthrateSakellaropoulou calls for ongoing support for UkraineZelensky warns of Russian aggression beyond Ukraine

Turkey announced it was restricting exports on a wide range of products to Israel on Tuesday, in Ankara's first significant measure against Israel after six months of war. The decision comes after Turkish President Erdogan’s party suffered a historic defeat in the municipal elections, a result which experts Sinan Ciddi and Steven Cook argued in Foreign Policy could provide a first glimpse into what a post-AKP Turkey might look like. Sinan Ciddi joins Thanos Davelis to look at why Erdogan is taking these measures against Israel now, and break down how it fits into the broader post-election narrative.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 and Steven Cook’s latest in Foreign Policy here: Post-Erdogan Turkey Is Finally HereYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkey imposes export restrictions on Israel until Gaza ceasefireGreece accuses Turkey of ‘politicizing’ environment, affirms commitment to safeguarding sovereign rightsTurkey challenges Greek plans for new marine park in Aegean Sea, citing sovereignty disputeEU Red Sea navy mission commander hopes for more ships to repel Houthi attacks

The last decade Thucydides has moved to the center of the discussion, with concepts like the “Thucydides trap” debated in policy circles in Washington, DC when looking at how to navigate US relations with a rising China in what appears to be a new era of great power competition. So what can Thucydides tell us about our world today? This was the focus of a recent event in Athens at the Institute of International Relations featuring Professor Andrew Novo, a scholar of ancient and modern Mediterranean history and strategic studies. Andrew Novo joins Thanos Davelis to look at the lessons we should take away from Thucydides in a changing world.Andrew Novo is Professor of Strategic Studies at the National Defense University in Washington, DC. He also teaches as an adjunct at Georgetown’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, is a non-resident fellow with the Center for European Policy’s Transatlantic Defense and Security program, and is the author of numerous books, including “Restoring Thucydides: Testing Familiar Lessons and Deriving New Ones”. All views expressed in this interview are his own and don’t reflect the views of the US government.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:We have good allies: Allies and decisions for war and peace in ThucydidesCyprus president and Lebanese caretaker premier urge EU financial aid to curb migration from LebanonGreece Invests Over €2 Billion to Fight Climate Change Effects

Migration is top of the agenda this week in Cyprus, with President Nikos Christodoulides calling for the EU to step in to help Cyprus deal with a surge in arrivals on its shores. Cyprus is pressing Brussels to designate parts of Syria as safe for returns of migrants, and also to condition EU aid to Lebanon on its preventing migrants from departing. Nektaria Stamouli, the deputy editor in chief of Kathimerini’s English Edition and Politico’s Eastern Mediterranean correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss the migration crisis unfolding in Cyprus, and look at how it is impacting the agenda ahead of the European elections.Read Nektaria Stamouli’s latest for Politico here:Cyprus declares migration crisis, calls for EU to helpCyprus demands Lebanon control migrant flowsYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Biden lauds Greek ideals, independence at White House celebrationLion’s share of foreign investment in realty

Greece is ramping up its firefighting efforts, with authorities betting on a host of preventive measures - from the deployment of firefighting aircraft to increased staffing in specialized forest firefighting units - as temperatures touched 30 degrees Celsius in late March and wildfires already broke out weeks earlier than expected. On top of multi-agency exercises and drills, Greece is also fast-tracking a 2.1 billion euro program to upgrade its fleet of firefighting aircraft and create an AI-driven sensor network to detect smoke in the early stages of a fire. Derek Gatopoulos, a correspondent for the Associated Press who has been covering news in Greece for more than 25 years, joins Thanos Davelis to look at the steps Greece is taking to prepare ahead of this summer’s wildfire season.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:As fire season fast approaches, Greece’s planners look for an edge in response timeGreek authorities overhaul wildfire response plans ahead of summer fire seasonEleven far-right MPs charged with electoral fraudGreece and India to sign defense cooperation agreement

With the EU elections on the horizon, one party in Greece, Greek Solution, is seeing a notable surge in support. The rise of this far right nationalist party also mirrors broader trends in the far right across Europe, and many are beginning to ask whether this resurgent far-right is here to stay. Dr. Georgios Samaras, an assistant professor of public policy at King’s College London, joins Thanos Davelis to look into the rise of Greek Solution and its leader Kostas Velopoulos, breaking down what this could mean for Greek politics ahead of European elections in June.Read Dr. Georgios Samaras’ latest piece in Kathimerini: The Greek far-right – a rising threat in the EU election stormYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:NATO to plan long-term Ukraine aid, mulls 100-billion euro fundNATO ministers’ doubts, fears and eye-rolls over €100B Ukraine planTurkey’s election authority reinstates pro-Kurdish mayoral election winner

Greece has just opened a new vacation visa terminal for Turkish visitors this week as part of a diplomatic effort to ease long-standing tensions between the two countries. The move follows the signing of a series of agreements between Greece and Turkey during President Erdogan’s meeting with Prime Minister Mitsotakis in Athens in December, most notably the Athens Declaration. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis to look into this latest initiative, and explore where it fits into ongoing efforts to maintain calm in the Aegean.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greek islands launch special visa program for Turkish visitors in diplomatic effort to calm regionMaintaining calm relations in the ‘frozen’ Greek-Turkish disputeCyprus to Gaza corridor will continue to operate, Cyprus president saysBlack Hawk helicopter purchase gets green light

Less than a year after securing another term, Turkish President Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party suffered its worst defeat in its 22-year history in Sunday’s municipal elections. All eyes were on Istanbul, where Ekrem Imamoglu easily won reelection and is increasingly cementing his place as Erdogan’s political challenger. Amberin Zaman, Al-Monitor’s chief correspondent covering major stories on the Middle East and North Africa, including Turkey, joins Thanos Davelis to break down Sunday’s results, what this defeat means for Erdogan, and look at whether the opposition’s resurgence can now reshape Turkey’s national politics. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suffers an electoral disasterTurkish local elections: Opposition stuns Erdogan with historic victoryDefense Min unveils ‘Agenda 2030’ for armed forces restructuringMitsotakis launches campaign for Euro elections stressing security, stabilityPM notes high stakes of Euro elections

On Friday US and Turkish officials confirmed that Turkey’s President Erdogan will visit the White House on May 9th, a move that has been described as an apparent quid pro quo for Ankara’s decision to finally green-light Sweden’s NATO membership. Alan Makovsky, veteran Turkey analyst and senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, joins Thanos Davelis to examine how Erdogan finally snagged an invite to the White House, and look into what message this move sends about the Biden administration’s approach to Turkey in the wake of the Sweden NATO saga.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Erdogan snags White House invite in diplomatic win, Turkish press reportsBiden to host Turkey's Erdogan at White House on May 9Greece to raise monthly minimum wage by 6.4% to 830 eurosEU plans to fast-track some financial aid to Egypt

Can a small antique table give us insight into the history of an entire city and its broader connections to the region? A recent quest for such an antique sent Sean Mathews, a journalist based in Greece and covering the broader Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, on a trip to Thessaloniki that quickly revealed just how multi-layered and cosmopolitan the city’s past is, with rich connections to the Eastern Mediterranean. Sean Mathews and George Manginis, the academic director at the Benaki Museum, join Thanos Davelis to break down this rich history and look at how current efforts to shine a light on Thessaloniki’s past cosmopolitanism are increasingly important today in a changing region. Read Sean Mathews’ latest article here: Ghosts of Thessaloniki: How a quest for a table revealed much about a city's multilayered pastYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greek government survives no-confidence vote over deadly Tempi train trashNo confidence motion fails, 141-159Tempe rail tragedy looms large over Euro pollsSecond aid ship heading to Gaza from CyprusEuropean Parliament President to visit Cyprus for humanitarian aid talks