Over the last decade we’ve gotten used to Congress driving policy on the East Med, yet since President Trump’s inauguration in January, all eyes have been on the executive. Endy Zemenides, HALC’s executive Director, joins Thanos Davelis today to see how Congress - on the heels of passing Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” - is stepping back into the spotlight, introducing key bills on Greece and Cyprus. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: Bill proposes 5-year extension of Cyprus ...
Jul 18, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1271
Earlier this week it seems President Trump took a new stance on Ukraine, announcing a new plan to speed weapons to the war-torn country along with the threat of a new round of punishing sanctions. At the same time, he doubled down on tariffs this past weekend, threatening 30% tariffs on the EU. Ian Lesser, the vice president and Brussels chief of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, joins Thanos Davelis to look into what these shifts mean for Europe. You can read the articles we discus...
Jul 17, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1270
Recent statistics show that home ownership is declining in Greece, while the number of people living on rent is shooting up. At the same time, the supply of apartments for sale or rent in the center of Athens continues to drop, while prices are on the rise. This is all contributing to a deepening housing crisis for many Greeks. Nikos Roussanoglou, a journalist at Kathimerini covering the economy and the housing market, joins Thanos Davelis to break down these trends, and look at what they mean f...
Jul 16, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1269
Italy and Greece are sounding the alarm in Brussels over a spike in migrant flows from Libya which has seen at least 9,000 people arrive in Crete since the start of the year, most of them in recent weeks. Athens has responded with new tough migration rules, and the Greek navy is also present in the area. Angeliki Dimitriadi, an independent researcher and expert on migration, joins Thanos Davelis as we dig into this latest migration challenge facing the region. You can read the articles we discus...
Jul 15, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1268
There are few media outlets - let alone businesses or organizations - around the world that can boast 100 years of existence. As of this weekend, Apogevmatini, the Greek newspaper founded in 1925 in Istanbul, can do just that. Niko Efstathiou, an Athens based journalist and author, joins Thanos Davelis to look into the legacy of Apogevmatini, the paper of the Greeks of Istanbul, tracing its history over the last century and exploring the challenges it faces today - from a shrinking Greek communi...
Jul 14, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1267
It seems Erdogan's main political opponents - primarily from the main opposition - are up against an unprecedented crackdown over the past months that has seen more than 500 people detained. Erdogan has said this government probe targets what he has called a network that is like "an octopus,” both within Turkey and abroad. Ayla Jean Yackley, an Istanbul-based journalist covering Turkey with stories in The Financial Times, Politico, and other major outlets, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a close...
Jul 11, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1266
We’re turning our attention to Libya today, as a surge in the number of migrants traveling from the divided country to Greece’s shores is sounding alarms in Athens and in Brussels. As Greece and the European Union look to tackle this new challenge, Athens is also looking to engage diplomatically with the two rival factions in Libya’s east and west. Alexandra Voudouri, Kathimerini’s Brussels correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis with the latest analysis. You can read the articles we discuss on our ...
Jul 10, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1265
Originally by today - July 9th - we were supposed to have 90 trade deals in 90 days, and new tariffs were supposed to go into effect. This week, the Trump administration extended the deadline to August 1st. President Trump is now insisting that there will not be another extension to this deadline. Maria Demertzis, the chief economist for Europe at the Conference Board in Brussels, joins Thanos Davelis as we look at what message this latest extension of the tariff deadline sends to America’s trad...
Jul 09, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1264
Speaking at an event organized by Kathimerini last week in Athens, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel reflected on her tenure, touching on a number of issues, from her relationship with leaders like former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to the Greek financial crisis. Iliana Magra, a journalist with Kathimerini, joins Thanos Davelis as we break down the main takeaways from this visit. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: Τι είπε και τι είδε η Μέρκελ στην Αθήνα Merkel says ...
Jul 08, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1263
Recent reports indicate that the White House is looking to find a way to move past Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 missiles, and pave the way for Ankara to return to the F-35 program. Sinan Ciddi and Bradley Bowman, the authors of the recent op-ed “S-400s or not, don’t give Turkey the F-35”, join Thanos Davelis to make the case that even if Turkey gives up the S-400s, F-35s should be off the table for both practical and moral reasons. Bradley Bowman is senior director of the Center on Militar...
Jul 07, 2025•19 min•Ep. 1262
While everyone’s attention has been on the Middle East over the past weeks, I want to turn us to the Black Sea. The Black Sea is not just critical to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine, but it is a key part of the wider standoff between Moscow and the West, raising questions about European security and drawing in other powers as well like Turkey and the US. Dimitar Bechev, a senior fellow with Carnegie Europe, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at why the Black Sea is i...
Jul 03, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1261
A scandal involving EU funds and farm subsidies has rocked the Greek government and is the lead story coming out of Greece. Over the weekend we saw the resignation of a few ministers, including migration minister and former agriculture minister Makis Voridis, and we’ve seen Prime Minister Mitsotakis acknowledge the government’s failure while announcing steps to address the issue. Nektaria Stamouli, the deputy editor in chief of Kathimerini's English Edition and Politico's Eastern Mediterranean c...
Jul 02, 2025•11 min•Ep. 1260
We’re turning to Turkey today, where Turkish markets rallied on Monday after a Turkish court adjourned a case that could force the removal of the main opposition party's leader. Despite this decision, there is still rising political uncertainty in the country as Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu remains imprisoned, and questions remain about the direction Turkey’s economy is heading. Wolfango Piccoli, the co-founder of risk analysis company Teneo, joins Thanos Davelis as we dig into these developmen...
Jul 01, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1259
Since President Trump stepped back into the Oval Office, Greece has been on the lookout for the arrival of a new US ambassador. While nominee Kimberly Guilfoyle has yet to go through her Senate hearing, the US ambassador in Ankara, Tom Barrack, seems to be charting a new course for US-Turkey ties. Tom Ellis, the editor in chief of Kathimerini’s English Edition, joins Thanos Davelis as we break down why the US can not afford to be under-represented in Southeast Europe and the Eastern Mediterranea...
Jun 30, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1258
Today we’re turning to Greece’s south, and looking at developments in Libya which are increasingly moving onto Athens’ radar. Greece is closely monitoring recent energy agreements between Libya’s Tripoli-based government and Turkey, and is moving ships south of Crete amid a new surge in migrants crossing the Mediterranean from Libya and heading to Greece. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at Libya, and break down what recen...
Jun 27, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1257
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited Turkey late last week for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the first formal meeting of its kind and a move Yerevan described as a "historic" step. Despite previous efforts - and a slew of concessions by Pashinyan to both Azerbaijan and Turkey over the past years - there has been little tangible progress in normalizing relations. Dr. Laurence Broers, an associate fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at Chatham House and an expe...
Jun 26, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1256
A few days ago the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, Syria, was bombed in a terrorist attack that left dozens of people dead. The attack has left Syria’s Christians struggling to understand why their community was targeted, and wondering if they can rely on the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa for safety. Nadine Maenza joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at what this deadly attack means for Syria’s Christians and minorities. Nadine Maenza is the President of the IRF S...
Jun 25, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1255
We’re turning our attention to the Hague today, where NATO leaders are gathering this week for a two day summit. While European allies - keen to avoid clashing with President Trump - already agreed to Washington’s demands that they increase defense spending, key questions loom over Ukraine, the Middle East, and the future of the transatlantic alliance. Ian Lesser, the vice president and Brussels chief of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into what’s a...
Jun 24, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1254
Turkey’s latest move to submit a new so-called maritime spatial plan to UNESCO laying claim to half of the Aegean Sea is once again putting the spotlight on its revisionist Blue Homeland doctrine, and raising questions about its commitment to maintaining calm in the region. Constantinos Filis, the director of the Institute of Global Affairs and a professor of international relations at the American College of Greece, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at this development, breaking dow...
Jun 23, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1253
Over the past decades we’ve heard a lot about the potential impacts of climate change, from rising temperatures to wildfires and droughts. Greece is on the frontline of many of these shifts. Today we’re taking a closer look at how climate change will impact Greece’s economy. Nikos Vettas, the General Director of the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research and a Professor of Economics at the Athens University of Economics and Business, joins Thanos Davelis as we break down the challenges ...
Jun 20, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1252
Earlier this week Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis essentially launched his pre-election campaign, unveiling a roadmap to the 2027 elections. As Mitsotakis prepares for 2027, we’re also seeing former prime minister Alexis Tsipras take steps that are fueling speculation about a political comeback, while the far-right is back in the headlines. Lamprini Rori, an Assistant Professor in Political Analysis at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a close...
Jun 19, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1251
The G7 leaders just met in Canada where the focus quickly turned to geopolitics, primarily the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, which saw President Trump leave the summit early and return to Washington as conflict escalated between Israel and Iran. At the same time, trade remains a key concern among the G7 nations, as tariffs loom on the horizon. Matthew Goodman, the director of the Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Thanos Davelis as we ...
Jun 18, 2025•11 min•Ep. 1250
Kathimerini just ran a piece highlighting the efforts of teachers and community schools in keeping Greek education alive in Turkey. These schools are central to the Greek community in Istanbul, a community that once had a significant presence but has dwindled to roughly 2,000 individuals over the last century as a result of government policies, persecution, and a pogrom in the 1950s. Dr. Ilay Romain Ors, a social anthropologist whose work has largely focused on the Greek Orthodox community of Is...
Jun 17, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1249
Since arriving in Ankara, US ambassador Tom Barrack has been thrown into the spotlight. Aside from his active role in Syria, reports indicate he is laying the groundwork for an Erdogan visit to Washington. If we take a closer look, however, the argument could also be made that he is seemingly promoting a number of Turkish positions across the board - from selling Turkey F-35s to presenting Turkey as an indispensable actor for regional stability. Now Israel’s strike on Iran could throw many of th...
Jun 16, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1248
Last year Greece’s two biggest teams achieved big triumphs at the European level, with Panathinaikos winning the Euroleague in basketball, and Olympiakos winning the Conference League in soccer. While this year didn’t deliver any major silverware, we stll saw important runs for both teams. At the same time, the Greek national team in soccer has many fans excited for what lies ahead as it sets out to qualify for next year’s World Cup. Prof. Alex Kitroeff, a professor of history who also studies a...
Jun 13, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1247
We’re almost at the halfway point of Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ second term. Despite a few political storms over the past years, New Democracy, the prime minister’s party, is riding out a wave of dissatisfaction among voters, holding steady at about 30 percent. At the same time, a rudderless and divided opposition can’t seem to translate this into votes. Nektaria Stamouli, the deputy editor in chief of Kathimerini's English Edition and Politico's Eastern Mediterranean correspondent, joins Thanos...
Jun 12, 2025•11 min•Ep. 1246
Despite pressure from the Trump administration for a peace deal or a ceasefire in Ukraine, Russia appears to be stepping up its attacks, launching almost 500 drones and missiles at Ukraine earlier this week. With President Trump keen on bringing this war to an end, or washing his hands of what he views as a European issue, Europe is debating how to build up their defense capabilities and support Ukraine. Professor Lawrence Freedman joins Thanos Davelis as we break down whether Europe is in a pos...
Jun 11, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1245
Kathimerini featured a story recently on the Cyclades, specifically sounding the alarm over what some are calling the “Disneyfication” of the islands amid unchecked tourism and construction. This is an issue that has been at the forefront of discussions over the past years when talking about striking a balance between sustainability and tourism in Greece, and the Sustainable Cyclades project has been a key part of this debate. Yannis Palaiologos, a journalist at large with Kathimerini and the co...
Jun 10, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1244
At the 9th Our Ocean Conference in Athens last year, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that Greece would create two marine parks that would raise the extent of Greece’s marine protected areas to 30 percent. Last year’s announcement also led to objections from Turkey, adding a geopolitical angle to this discussion. Now, reports indicate Greece is about to pass legislation to make this a reality. John Psaropoulos joins Thanos Davelis as we break down what this could mean for Greece’s de...
Jun 09, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1243
As Europe faces increasing pressure over access to fresh water, the problem has become particularly acute in Greece. Reports indicate that Athens and the Attica region will face a water crisis in the coming years under current climate conditions, while the spotlight is increasingly on how to preserve and manage water resources across the country. In addition, this challenge has taken on a European dimension, as the continent grapples with similar questions and the EU unveils a new water resilien...
Jun 06, 2025•10 min•Ep. 1242
