With the US focused on Ukraine, the Middle East, and President Trump’s trade deals, it seems the Western Balkans are flying under the radar in Washington. In fact, there are growing concerns in the region about a quiet US withdrawal and what this could mean as countries like Russia, China and Turkey vie for influence. Professor James Ker-Lindsay, who has worked extensively on the EU, the Balkans and Southeast Europe, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at these developments. You can re...
Sep 05, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1301
The Economist just ran a story about the Shanghai Co-operation Organization summit that took place, calling it Xi Jinping’s anti-American party. This party also included world leaders like Turkish President Erdogan. Sinan Ciddi, a non-resident senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and an expert on Turkish politics, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into Erdogan’s cozying up to China and what it means for the US. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: Xi Jinp...
Sep 04, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1300
This weekend Prime Minister Mitsotakis is heading to Thessaloniki, where he’s going to deliver a sort of state of the union address, outlining his agenda and key priorities for the year ahead. Today Thanos Davelis brings on Nick Malkoutzis, the co-founder of Macropolis.gr, as we break down what issues are top of the list, and what moves Mitsotakis is planning for the year ahead. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: PM finalises relief measures in ambitious but risky move to ...
Sep 03, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1299
Constantine Cavafy, the Greek poet whose work not only charted a new path for Greek poetry, but also inspired countless readers around the world - including figures like David Hockney, Leonard Cohen, and Jackie Kennedy Onassis - is back in the spotlight thanks to the publication of his first biography in roughly 50 years. Professors Gregory Jusdanis and Peter Jeffreys, the authors of the book, join Thanos Davelis as we take a deeper dive into the life and work of Constantine Cavafy. For those wh...
Sep 02, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1298
Endy Zemenides, HALC’s Executive Director, is joined by Michael Rubin, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, to break down reports that Israel is closing in on a security deal with Syria as a U.S. envoy meets with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and to analyze what this means for the region, from Turkey to broader U.S. strategy in the Middle East. You can read the article we discuss on our podcast here: Syria's Sharaa confirms 'advanced' talks with Israel on security deal; US envoy meets...
Aug 25, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1297
HALC Executive Director and host Endy D. Zemenides is joined by Mariam Wahba, Research Analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to analyze the Egyptian government's efforts to control St. Catherine's monastery, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery. You can read the articles we discuss in the podcast here: Egypt’s War Against the World’s Oldest Christian Monastery On migration, Greece takes a Trumpian turn - The Washington Post Energy minister dismisses repor...
Aug 22, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1296
HALC Executive Director and host Endy D. Zemenides is joined by Tyler Stapleton, Director of Government Relations at FDD Action, to analyze the State Department's response to a Congressional letter calling on holding Turkey accountable and the F-35 program. You can read the articles we discuss in the podcast here: State Department: The US position regarding Turkey’s acquisition of F-35s remains unchanged | eKathimerini.com A Gaza-bound ship that left Cyprus with 1,200 tons of food aid nears Isra...
Aug 21, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1295
HALC Executive Director and host Endy D. Zemenides is joined by Patrick Theros, former U.S. Ambassador to Qatar, member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and former Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism, to analyze the freezing of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem's bank accounts. You can read the articles we discuss in the podcast here: Jerusalem freezes Greek Orthodox Patriarchate's bank accounts over tax dispute | The Times of Israel Serbia rocked by ongoing anti-government cl...
Aug 20, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1294
HALC Executive Director and host Endy D. Zemenides is joined by Ilan Berman , Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council, Board Member at Radio Free Europe, and author of Implosion: The End of Russia and What It Means for America to analyze the aftermath and impact of President Trump's meeting with with President Zelensky and European Leaders. You can read the articles we discuss in the podcast here: Major Takeaways From Trump’s Meeting With Zelenskyy and European Leaders | Cou...
Aug 19, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1293
Host Endy D. Zemenides, HALC Executive Director, welcomes Matthew Boyle, Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief for Breitbart News, for a deep dive into the implications of President Trump’s recent meeting with President Vladimir Putin, the latest developments in the war in Ukraine, and what all of this means for international relations.
Aug 18, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1292
Greece - and much of southern Europe - has faced a series of wildfires over the past weeks, prompting evacuations and even resulting in deaths. As Greece grapples with another summer of wildfires, questions abound over how to combat this phenomenon and build resilience, and the role of the media, the government, and civil society. Niko Efstathiou, an Athens based journalist and author, joins Thanos Davelis as we dig into these questions. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: ...
Aug 18, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1291
Earlier this week we took a look at the stakes ahead of President Trump’s meeting with Russian President Putin in Alaska. Today, Professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, the president of the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute who has advised the White House, the State and Treasury Departments, and the Council of Economic Advisers on Russian economic sanctions and business retreats, joins Thanos Davelis as we explore how sanctions have crippled Russia’s economy, leaving Putin with very few cards. You...
Aug 15, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1290
Is Israel risking overplaying its hand in Gaza and the Middle East, and, as European countries like France and Britain move to recognize Palestine, what are the broader ramifications for the region? Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Thanos Davelis as we look to answer these questions, and more. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: Israel Risks Overplaying Its Hand in Gaza and the Mid...
Aug 14, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1289
Are Armenia and Azerbaijan on a path to peace, or is the latest deal signed at the White House a rushed agreement that lets Baku off the hook for its aggression - from the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno Karabakh to its unlawful detention of Armenian POWs? Thanos Davelis digs into this question with Aram Hamparian, the executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America, as we look at what this deal means for peace and stability in the region. You can read the articles we discuss on our...
Aug 13, 2025•10 min•Ep. 1288
All eyes will be on Alaska this Friday as President Trump meets with President Putin to discuss Ukraine, a high stakes summit with risks for Europe, Ukraine, and President Trump. Will Ukraine’s fear of a deal struck between Trump and Putin - and excluding Kyiv - be realized? What about the political risks for President Trump both at home and with US allies? David Sanger, the White House and National Security Correspondent for the New York Times, joins Thanos Davelis as we dig into all of these q...
Aug 12, 2025•11 min•Ep. 1287
Almost a month since Kimberly Guilfoyle received the nod from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, we are still waiting for her to take up the job of US ambassador in Athens. Endy Zemenides, HALC’s Executive Director, joins Thanos Davelis as we try to answer the question everyone’s thinking in Greece: “When is Kimberly arriving?” You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: Another hurdle delays Guilfoyle’s arrival US Senate gridlock further delays Guilfoyle’s arrival to Greece C...
Aug 08, 2025•11 min•Ep. 1286
Syria stands at a pivotal moment. As the violent persecution of Syria’s minorities intensifies, key voices are calling on the US and the international community to help steer the country away from authoritarianism and toward a future that ensures equal citizenship for all Syrians. Two of those voices - Nadine Maenza and Aykan Erdemir - join Thanos Davelis as we break down why these steps are needed, before it’s too late. Nadine Maenza is the chair of the Institute for Global Engagement, co-chair...
Aug 07, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1285
Despite Cyprus being better prepared than ever ahead of the wildfire season, last month Cyprus was hit with its worst wildfire in decades. As Cypriots look for answers, countries in the region - including Greece - are also facing similar challenges as they struggle to build resilience and keep up with the impacts of climate change. Nektaria Stamouli, the deputy editor in chief of Kathimerini's English Edition and Politico's Eastern Mediterranean correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis as we dig into...
Aug 06, 2025•10 min•Ep. 1284
With the summer holiday season kicking into full gear, Greek politics doesn’t seem ready for a break just yet. Nick Malkoutzis, the co-founder and editor of Macropolis.gr, joins Thanos Davelis as we dig into what’s keeping Greek politicians busy in the summer heat - whether it’s the continued fallout over an EU farm subsidy scandal, speculation that former prime minister Antonis Samaras could form his own party, or new relief measures set to be announced after the summer. You can read the articl...
Aug 05, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1283
Over the past month we’ve seen a battle of maps in the Eastern Mediterranean, with the Tripoli-based government in Libya, backed by Turkey, raising the temperature with Greece. Thanos Davelis brings on Constantinos Filis, the director of the Institute of Global Affairs and a professor of international relations at the American College of Greece, as we dig into Greece’s Libya conundrum and break down whether it’s time for Athens - given Ankara’s role here - to rethink its Turkey strategy. You can...
Aug 04, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1282
Earlier this week we dug into the EU-US trade deal, a deal that many Europeans feel is a humiliation and a surrender. As the dust settles around the details of this agreement, Thanos Davelis brings on Yiannis Mouzakis, the co-founder and editor of Macropolis.gr - a political and economic analysis site that focuses on Greece, to take a closer look at what this deal could mean for Greece. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: Greece digests EU-US trade deal amid mixed reaction ...
Aug 01, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1281
The past week has seen a number of developments on defense making headlines in Greece, whether it’s news that Athens will tap into Europe’s SAFE program, or plans that foresee self-sufficient military units on Greece’s islands. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis to break down why these moves matter, and look at what else he is paying attention to, including Turkey’s deal for Eurofighter jets and its expected response to Greece’s new maritime park in...
Jul 31, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1280
Earlier this month about 30 Kurdish PKK fighters put their assault rifles in a cauldron and set them on fire, a symbolic move after Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK’s imprisoned leader, issued a call for the PKK to lay down its arms. Thanos Davelis is joined by Piotr Zalewski, The Economist's Turkey correspondent, as we look into whether Kurds and Turks, after more than four decades of conflict, are closer than ever to peace. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: Kurds and Turks are ...
Jul 30, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1279
Surrender, submission, humiliation. Those are the words floating around in Europe after the US and the EU reached a tariff deal this weekend that President Trump described as the “biggest deal” ever made. Thanos Davelis brings on Simon Nixon, an independent journalist, Kathimerini columnist, and the publisher of the Wealth of Nations newsletter, as we ask the question: big beautiful deal, humiliating surrender, or a little bit of both? You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: Eu...
Jul 29, 2025•11 min•Ep. 1278
With President Trump’s tariffs putting a sharp focus on China, most will likely be closely watching negotiations between the two as they look to avoid a full-blown trade war. In the meantime, the EU also has its eye on China, as Beijing’s wide trade surplus with the bloc and its backing of Moscow are key concerns. Brad Setser, the Whitney Shepardson senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations with an expertise in global trade, joins Thanos Davelis today as we take a closer look at how Euro...
Jul 28, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1277
Seeing little progress in its effort to get back into the F-35 program, Turkey is now turning to the Eurofighter, with reports this week indicating a deal with both the UK and Germany for 40 jets. Tyler Stapleton and Sinan Ciddi, two experts tracking this issue closely, join Thanos Davelis today to look at what this deal means for Turkey and President Erdogan, and whether this could pose a risk for Europe in the long run. Sinan Ciddi is a non-resident senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense ...
Jul 25, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1276
Syria has been rocked lately by sectarian violence, something that’s not only putting the country’s minorities on edge, but is also posing a challenge to ongoing US efforts led by Ambassador Tom Barrack to push for the Syrian Kurds’ full integration into the Syrian government. Amberin Zaman, Al-Monitor's chief correspondent covering major stories on the Middle East and North Africa, joins Thanos Davelis today as we dig into this story. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: Su...
Jul 24, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1275
While Libya - and the Turkish presence there - has long been on Greece’s radar, the war-torn country is now attracting Brussels’ attention as well amid concerns about migration and Russia’s expanding influence there. Jalel Harchaoui, a Libya specialist based in Paris, joins Thanos Davelis as we dig into Europe’s concerns about migration and Russia’s expanding footprint in Libya, and look at Turkey’s charm offensive toward the government in the east. You can read the articles we discuss on our po...
Jul 23, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1274
Greece is in the middle of a new heatwave that will see temperatures pass 40 degrees celsius - or 104 Fahrenheit - this week. While the government issues warnings to stay out of the sun and remain cool indoors, this is not an option for many Greeks living in buildings that are not designed to cope with these high temperatures. Today we're bringing on Alexia Kalaitzi, an award-winning journalist and features reporter for Kathimerini, who joins Thanos Davelis as we look into the question: How hot ...
Jul 22, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1273
At the beginning of the year Lebanon found itself with a new president, a weakened Hezbollah, and the collapse of Assad in Syria, and many - including leaders in Athens - were asking if now was an opportunity to reimagine Lebanon's future. Today Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into Greece’s ties to Lebanon and its message of support as the country looks to rebuild. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: Greece backs ...
Jul 21, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1272
