The Greek Current

World leaders met in Paris earlier this week for the AI Action Summit, a global summit on artificial intelligence. While France and the EU pledged to mobilize hundreds of billions of dollars in investments in the AI sector, Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who was also in Paris, put a spotlight on how Greece is helping to shape European developments in this critical sector. Yannis Mastrogeorgiou, the Special Secretary of Foresight in the Presidency of the Greek Government and the Coordinator of the National Advisory Committee on Artificial Intelligence, joins Thanos Davelis to look into Greece’s broader AI strategy. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece is helping to shape developments in AI, Mitsotakis saysEU to mobilise €200 billion for AI investmentAthens and Nicosia set Syria termsAthens offers support to rebuild SyriaNATO tests new deployment model without US ahead of Ukraine war anniversary

This past weekend voters in Kosovo went to the polls in an election that many saw as critical for the future of its relations with the US and the EU, but also when it comes to stalled talks with Serbia to normalize ties. Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who has pushed hardline policies vis-a-vis Kosovo’s Serbs, won the general election, but his party fell short of a majority and will need to find a coalition partner to remain in power. Expert Charles Kupchan joins Thanos Davelis to break down why these elections matter not just for Kosovo, but for the Western Balkans and the broader region.Charles Kupchan is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and professor of international affairs at Georgetown University in the Walsh School of Foreign Service and Department of Government. He previously served as special assistant to the president and senior director for European affairs on the staff of the National Security Council in the Obama administration.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Why Kosovo's Election Matters For The Region And The WorldKosovo PM Albin Kurti wins election amid tensions with Brussels and WashingtonSerbia: Students mark 100 days since deadly canopy collapseTrump Says Call With Putin Is Beginning of Ukraine Peace NegotiationsTrump and Putin stun Europe with peace plan for Ukraine President-elect Tasoulas calls for national unity and social solidarity

For the past decade, Cyprus, the EU’s easternmost state and the closest to the Middle East, has stood as one of the EU’s frontline states when it comes to the migration crisis. The fall of the Assad regime in Syria and the conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza are now raising new questions about migration and regional security. Nicholas Ioannides, the Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection of Cyprus, joins Thanos Davelis to break down these shifting dynamics on migration and on the security front, and explore how cooperation with partners in the region, the EU, and the US, is going to be critical in tackling these challenges.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Hundreds of Syrians drop asylum bids in Cyprus since Assad’s fall, minister saysMore than 1,000 Syrians have withdrawn asylum applications in Cyprus, another 500 have returned homePoland will not implement Migration Pact, Donald Tusk tells Ursula von der LeyenUS leadership key to Middle East stability, experts say at 6th Southeast Europe ForumDendias highlights Greece’s strategic role in US foreign policyTurkish Navy continues to shadow Greek surveys north of Crete

We’re coming to you from the sidelines of the 6th Delphi Forum in Washington DC, a two-day conference organized by HALC, Kathimerini’s English Edition, and the Delphi Economic Forum today, where the spotlight is on Greece, Cyprus, Southeast Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. This is a region at the crossroads of three continents and at the heart of exciting developments. Georgia Logothetis, HALC’s Managing Director, joins Thanos Davelis as we bring you the latest from DC. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Discussing regional developments in WashingtonGreece presses France over missile sale to TurkeyCypriot president- Turkish Cypriot leader say they’re ready for UN-led meeting to restart peace talks

A few months after Russia’s President Putin invaded Ukraine, Russia and Turkey used a nuclear project to sidestep US sanctions. In short, Moscow slipped billions of dollars through US banks into Turkey, from which the money could bankroll Russian state initiatives. Now US prosecutors are eyeing $2 billion worth of Russian funds that are stuck at JP Morgan. Costas Paris, a senior reporter for The Wall Street Journal who wrote an exclusive on this story, joins Thanos Davelis to look into this sanctions evasion scheme involving Moscow and Ankara, and break down what questions this raises for Washington.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Moscow Has $2 Billion Stuck at JPMorgan. The U.S. Isn’t Sure What to Do With It.Schools on 4 Greek islands will stay shut next week as earthquakes continueKosovo heads to election clouded by tensions with Serbia

A story that's been in and out of the headlines in Greece lately has to do with France and the potential sale of Meteor missiles to Turkey. While the story is putting Greece’s relations with France and other EU partners in the spotlight, it also raises questions about European arms sales to countries like Turkey. This debate comes amid calls for Europe to spend much more on its own defence, something Prime Minister Mitsotakis weighed in on with a recent Financial Times op-ed. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis with the backstory on this potential arms sale to Ankara, while looking into the broader debate on European defense. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Paris seeks to allay Greek concerns on missile sale to TurkeyEurope must spend more on its own defencePM mulling timing and scope of cabinet reshuffleTurkey's growing power pollution a sign of things to come

A provisional mining deal last year between Turkey and Niger, one of the world’s biggest uranium producers, has analysts asking if Turkey is taking quiet yet deliberate steps toward producing enriched uranium fuel, a step that could one day lead to nuclear weapons. Andrea Stricker, the deputy director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ (FDD) Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program and an FDD research fellow, joins Thanos Davelis to break down President Erdogan’s nuclear ambitions and the risk of a nuclear Turkey.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:FAQ: Is Turkey the Next Nuclear Proliferant State?Turkey Eyes Niger Mining Projects Amid Competition for UraniumTurkish corvette off Crete signals Ankara’s intentHundreds of Syrians drop asylum bids in Cyprus since Assad’s fall, minister says

According to recent reports - notably in the Financial Times - the EU is debating a return to Russian gas as part of a Ukraine peace deal, with officials from Germany and Hungary endorsing the idea. This discussion is unfolding as President Trump is threatening tariffs against the EU if it doesn’t buy more American LNG, and as Europe grapples with the broader question of whether it needs to prepare for a post-America Europe. Max Bergmann, the director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and the Stuart Center in Euro-Atlantic and Northern European Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into this energy debate and the future of the US-Europe relationship.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:EU debates return to Russian gas as part of Ukraine peace dealTrump Needs a Plan to Get Europeans to Step Up on DefenseSyria's interim leader holds talks with key ally Turkey on his second international tripSantorini mass exodus ongoing as tremors persist

Last week President Christodoulides delivered his annual “State of the Union” address, highlighting his vision for Cyprus in 2025. The President laid out an ambitious reform agenda that will not only modernize Cyprus, but improve the brand of Cyprus both on the international stage and in the eyes of its own citizens. Irene Piki, the Deputy Minister to the President of the Republic of Cyprus, joins Thanos Davelis to break down the President’s top priorities and his vision to improve the daily lives of people in a continuously changing Cyprus. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Christodoulides unveils ambitious plans in State of the Union addressCyprus in US Visa Waiver Program soonBrussels vows ‘firm’ response to threatened Trump tariffs as EU braces for trade warOpposition parties divided on PM no-confidence motion over Tempe train crash  Poll: 8 in 10 Greeks disapprove of government’s handling of Tempe case

Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democrat and President Trump’s choice to serve as the Director of National Intelligence, just went through a tense Senate confirmation hearing, facing bipartisan skepticism about her suitability for the role. Georgia Logothetis, HALC’s Managing Director, joins Thanos Davelis to look into Gabbard’s political transformation, her past criticism of Turkey’s President Erdogan and where she stands on Hellenic issues, and the broader takeaways from Gabbard’s hearing and the hearings of other key nominees for Cabinet positions.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Gabbard’s Hearing Turns Tense Over Snowden QuestionsWhat Trump’s Nominees RevealedTulsi Gabbard’s road to DamascusGabbard faces bipartisan doubt in spy job hearing; Patel gets GOP embrace as FBI pickChristodoulides unveils ambitious plans in State of the Union addressGreece, Cyprus, others urge EU Commission to protect elections in Europe from foreign interference

Top lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish People’s Equality and Democracy Party have now met with Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the PKK, on a few occasions, generating some buzz around the potential for a deal that could bring the decades-long conflict between the Turkish state and the Kurds to an end. This is taking place amid seismic geopolitical shifts in the region, especially in Syria. Henri Barkey, an adjunct senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and the Cohen chair in international relations at Lehigh University, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into the latest efforts to bring an end to Turkey’s 40-year Kurdish conflict.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkey, Kurds move toward peace deal as lawmakers meet with PKK leader OcalanWhat to know about the latest effort to bring an end to Turkey’s 40-year Kurdish conflictGreece strongly objects to sale of Meteor missile to TurkeyMitsotakis denies cover-up accusations in Tempe railway disaster

President Trump promised to shake up how Washington does business, and he has wasted no time since his inauguration. From executive orders to a call with Denmark’s leader over Greenland, Trump seems to be making good on his pledge to disrupt American domestic and foreign policy. What will this mean for the US and its allies, particularly in Europe? Expert James Lindsay joins Thanos Davelis to look into President Trump’s disruptive foreign policy agenda and how it could impact America’s friends and allies.James M. Lindsay is the Mary and David Boies distinguished senior fellow in U.S. foreign policy and director of Fellowship Affairs at the Council on Foreign Relations, the host of the weekly podcast The President’s Inbox. His most recent book, co-authored with Ivo H. Daalder, is The Empty Throne: America’s Abdication of Global Leadership.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Donald Trump’s Disruptive First DaysU.S. Foreign Policy on the Eve of DisruptionEurope’s leaders plot to stop Trump from taking Greenland Albania amends Greek identity legislationMore positive signs in tourism

As President Trump assumed office repeating his campaign slogan of “drill, baby, drill”, Greece announced that US energy giant Chevron is interested in exploring for oil and gas in Greek waters. The move comes as President Trump has also called on Europe to buy more US energy. John Psaropoulos joins Thanos Davelis to look into this latest development on the energy front, its timing and the message it signals to Washington, and why it serves as a reminder about Greece’s important role in the regional - and global - energy market.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece aligns with Trump on gas explorationEU prolongs its Russia sanctions for 6 months after Hungary lifts its objectionsTurkey Aims for $6 Billion Weapons Deal With Saudi Arabia

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias just became the first member of Greece’s government to visit the US since President Trump’s inauguration with a trip that took him beyond the Beltway to cities like Chicago. Beyond engaging with the diaspora, Dendias’ trip put Greece in the spotlight for a wider American audience. Endy Zemenides, HALC’s Executive Director, joins Thanos Davelis to break down why focusing on the US beyond Washington, DC matters, and discuss his latest piece in Kathimerini that asks whether Hellenes need to stop searching for political messiahs in the United States, particularly the oval office.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Hellenism’s futile search for an American messiah: From Carter to TrumpDendias hails Greek-Jewish ties, highlights strategic alliances with Israel and USA Conversation with Greek Defense Minister Nikos DendiasArchbishop Anastasios of Albania diesThousands protest over deadly train crash in Greece

Recent findings from the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Global 100 study reveal that while global antisemitism has surged across the world over the last decade, Greece is bucking this trend. In fact, it recorded the largest decrease in antisemitic attitudes globally, with a 19-point drop. Aykan Erdemir, the Senior Director for Global Research and Diplomatic Affairs at the ADL, joins Thanos Davelis to break down the key takeaways from the ADL’s study, looking at this global trend of rising antisemitism, and contrasting it to the progress Greece has made over the last decade.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece makes strides in global fight against antisemitism, study findsUS air force looks to upgrade Cyprus airbase as humanitarian staging post for the Middle EastIonian, Aegean marine parks plan pushed to mid-2025

Opening its doors in 2022, the Cyprus Center for Land, Open-seas, and Port Security, otherwise known as CYCLOPS, is now not only on the front line of US and European security, but is a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to relations between Washington and Nicosia. Michael Rubin, the director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, joins Thanos Davelis to look at the important role CYCLOPS and Cyprus are playing in the region, and to break down why this critical training center is the perfect partnership for the US in the Trump era. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Cyprus’ CYCLOPS Is the Perfect Partnership for the Trump AgeThe U.S. Won’t Defeat China if Ambassadors Fail UpwardsNovember a record-breaking month for Greek tourism Turkey, Kurds move toward peace deal as lawmakers meet with PKK leader Ocalan

As President Trump outlined his “America first” foreign policy vision in his inaugural address, other key players on the foreign policy chess board in Washington are also moving into place, from Secretary of State Marco Rubio taking over the State Department to new leaders in Congress. Laura Kelly, the foreign policy reporter for The Hill, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss the view from Washington, DC and Capitol Hill as President Trump looks to begin implementing his foreign policy vision, and explore what to expect from these other players, including Congress.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Scores of career State Dept. diplomats resign before Trump’s inaugurationRubio unanimously confirmed as secretary of State, becoming Trump’s first Cabinet officialTrump signs executive order pausing foreign assistance for 3 monthsTrump's pick for U.N. ambassador is Elise Stefanik. Here's what to knowEurope must seek ‘mutually beneficial solutions’ post-Trump, Mitsotakis saysAs defence ties strengthen, US assesses Cyprus base

Prime Minister Mitsotakis announced his pick for President of Greece last week, selecting New Democracy veteran Kostas Tasoulas. The decision is not only indicative of the direction Mitsotakis is looking to move in 2025, but it also sets the stage for a new political battleground between New Democracy and PASOK. Nick Malkoutzis, the co-founder and editor of Macropolis.gr, joins Thanos Davelis to help us read between the lines, breaking down what’s at stake for the government and PASOK, while looking at broader global trends - from potential tariffs to Ukraine - and how they could impact Greece.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Presidential vote creates new battleground as ND and PASOK renew hostilitiesAs political landscape stabilizes, PASOK fears it may have hit its ceilingPoll gives New Democracy 12-point leadChristodoulides, Tatar fail to reach deal on new crossing pointsChevron expresses interest in Greek energy exploration

Since the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, many have repeated the analysis that Turkey is “the winner” in Syria. Is this the case, however? Has Turkey really won anything yet? Developments on the ground indicate that this may not be the case. Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Thanos Davelis to break down why it might still be too early to celebrate an Erdogan win in Syria.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkey Hasn’t Won Anything Yet in SyriaUS officials to head to Cyprus to discuss defense upgrades, president says‘Serving as US Ambassador to Greece has been the honor of a lifetime,’ Tsunis says

In a move heralded as historic, President Joe Biden issued a presidential determination this week officially including Cyprus in three critical US defense programs. Cyprus hailed the decision allowing military sales, including arms, to the island as a milestone affirming the country’s role as a pillar of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. Lena Argiri, the DC correspondent for ERT - the Greek Public Broadcasting Company - and Kathimerini, joins Thanos Davelis to look at this major development in US-Cyprus ties that paves the way for the incoming Trump administration to take this relationship to new heights.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Cyprus included in three critical US defense programsGreece has tapped 18 bln euros from EU’s Recovery FundPM marks shift, nominates House speaker as next president