14 Ιουν 2022 Turkey and its pursuit of 'strategic autonomy' In its quest for strategic autonomy, Turkey is pursuing a radical revision of the regional status quo by projecting power in the region with increasing aggression and disregard for international law. Admiral Alexandros Diakopoulos, the former National Security Advisor for the Greek Prime Minister, joins Thanos Davelis to look at Ankara’s pursuit of strategic autonomy and hegemony of the Eastern... 15 λεπτά
10 Ιουν 2022 Debunking Turkey’s claims about the sovereignty of Greek islands Erdogan warned that he was “not joking” on Thursday about his demand for Greece to demilitarize its Aegean islands, and Foreign Minister Cavusoglu has warned Greece to demilitarize or face a debate about the island’s sovereignty. Greece has effectively rebuked Turkey’s claims, but Ankara continues to escalate its rhetoric. Professor Petros Liakouras joins Thanos Davelis to break down why Turkey... 15 λεπτά
9 Ιουν 2022 Could Europe be facing a new refugee crisis? The war in Ukraine – one of the world’s biggest exporters of grain – is fuelling food shortages around the world and pushing millions of people into famine, raising fears of new waves of refugees toward southern Europe. The EU’s Mediterranean countries, which would be on the frontlines once again, are on alert, and have called on the EU to act with urgency on this issue and take steps to show... 15 λεπτά
8 Ιουν 2022 Erdogan plans new military operation in Syria In late May, Turkish President Erdogan announced that Turkey plans to launch another operation into northern Syria. Turkish artillery fire in the region has been registered since early June, while Russia has intensified military patrols in the parts of northern Syria it controls. Both the US and Russia have called on Turkey not to launch this new military operation in the region. Ambassador... 11 λεπτά
8 Ιουν 2022 Is Turkey looking to annex the occupied part of Cyprus? Cyprus is lodging a complaint to the UN over Turkey’s new financial assistance deal with Turkish Cypriots and over Turkey’s decision to designate the Turkish Cypriots’ unrecognized main airport as a domestic flight route, effectively turning it into a Turkish one. There is a fear among Turkish Cypriots as well that both the financial deal and the airport designation are the clearest signals yet... 10 λεπτά
7 Ιουν 2022 Turkey, the Grey Wolves, and the Kurds Since its inception, the Turkish government has used the Grey Wolves, a Turkish ultranationalist organization, to target Kurds and other minorities both within Turkey and abroad. Diliman Abdulkader, the Co-Founder and Director of American Friends of Kurdistan, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss his latest publication on the Grey Wolves, which highlights their links to past and present Turkish... 14 λεπτά
3 Ιουν 2022 Germany's policy of “equal distances” between Greece and Turkey With Turkey escalating its provocations against Greece in the Aegean, we saw Germany once again - at least initially - call on “both sides” to reduce tensions. Following a reaction in Athens at this perceived neutrality, Germany’s government firmed up its stance and called Turkey’s overflights above Greek islands unacceptable. Xenia Kounalaki, a journalist and the foreign editor at Kathimerini,... 10 λεπτά
2 Ιουν 2022 Deconstructing Ankara's revisionism in the Aegean Turkish revisionism in the Aegean is on full display these past weeks, with Ankara even questioning the sovereignty of large Greek islands. This isn’t a new story, however, as Turkey has been trying to turn the Aegean Sea into a disputed area for 50 years, raising new claims that attempt to undermine Greece‘s sovereign rights. As a result of these latest escalations, Athens is taking a number... 11 λεπτά
1 Ιουν 2022 NATO, the Aegean, Syria, and the intersection of Turkey's foreign and domestic politics Over the last weeks Turkey has decided to block Sweden and Finland’s bids to join the NATO alliance, Ankara has escalated its provocations and threats against Greece in the Aegean, and Turkish President Erdogan is now threatening a new incursion into northern Syria. Dr. Lisel Hintz joins Thanos Davelis to look at these foreign policy decisions and break down how they also intersect with... 16 λεπτά
28 Μαϊ 2022 Taking the US-Greece partnership to new heights We’ve had over a week to reflect on Prime Minister Mitsotakis’s visit to Washington, DC, a visit that showcased Greece’s enhanced role as one of Washington’s closest allies. This visit also came at a time when solidarity within NATO has become of the utmost importance. Unfortunately, that solidarity is being tested in the Aegean, where Turkish provocations have escalated tensions. Dr. Jake... 14 λεπτά
27 Μαϊ 2022 What does the EU proposal to keep its debt rules lifted mean for Greece? This week the EU Commission proposed to extend a moratorium on EU fiscal rules until the end of 2023, but warned that this "does not mean a free for all," stressing it will not allow for any fiscal excesses. Especially for over indebted countries, such as Greece, the monitoring of expenditures will be stricter. This decision came as the Commission recommended Greece’s exit from its strict... 11 λεπτά
26 Μαϊ 2022 Greece is more than a 'pillar of stability', it is a paradigm Last week in Washington, DC Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis seized the opportunity to present Greece as more than a “pillar of stability” and a “reliable ally,” drawing a direct line between core American values and interests and fundamental Hellenic national issues. Endy Zemenides, HALC’s Executive Director, joins Thanos Davelis to look at why, after last week, Greece is now a... 11 λεπτά
25 Μαϊ 2022 Erdogan says Mitsotakis "no longer exists" for him, escalating tensions On Monday Turkey’s President Erdogan vowed never to meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis again, saying Mitsotakis "no longer exists" for him. Erdogan accused Mitsotakis of deliberately antagonizing Turkey when he addressed Congress last week in Washington, DC, and has called off talks between the countries. His latest statements have raised fears of renewed tensions heading into... 11 λεπτά
24 Μαϊ 2022 Greek security concerns and public opinion amid the war in Ukraine Greece, as Prime Minister Mitsotakis made clear in the US last week, has taken a clear and decidedly pro-Western policy after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, offering not only humanitarian aid but also arms to Ukraine. Recent polls, however, show that everyday Greeks remain wary of this position, viewing both the US and Russia with skepticism. John Psaropoulos, an independent journalist based in... 17 λεπτά
21 Μαϊ 2022 Greece, the F-35, and Lockheed Martin At the White House this week, Prime Minister Mitsotakis announced that Greece will move forward with its bid to acquire the F-35 stealth fighter jet after 2028. He also added that Lockheed Martin had expressed an interest in investing in Greece’s aerospace industry. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis to break down the next steps for Greece in... 12 λεπτά
20 Μαϊ 2022 "I will not forget!": Commemorating the Pontian Genocide Greece’s leaders commemorated the 103rd anniversary of the genocide of the Greeks of the Pontus region today, in which at least 353,000 Pontian Greeks perished. This was a major phase of a larger genocide of Christians in Turkey that also targeted Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks from Asia Minor and eastern Thrace. Professor Alexander Kitroeff, a Professor of History at Haverford College whose... 12 λεπτά
19 Μαϊ 2022 Mitsotakis meets with Biden and delivers historic address to Congress We’re taking you to Washington, DC today, where Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis just wrapped up a two day trip that included a meeting at the White House with President Biden and a historic address to a joint session of Congress. Lena Argiri, the DC Correspondent for ERT - the Greek Public Broadcasting Company, joins Thanos Davelis with the latest analysis. You can read the articles we discuss... 10 λεπτά
17 Μαϊ 2022 Why is Erdogan standing in the way of Sweden and Finland's NATO bid? Turkey surprised its NATO allies last week by saying it would not view the applications of Sweden and Finland positively, and on Monday Turkish President Erdogan doubled down on comments last week indicating that the two Nordic countries´ path to NATO would be anything but smooth. Erdogan also cited Greece to express his disagreement over Finland and Sweden joining the transatlantic alliance.... 15 λεπτά
13 Μαϊ 2022 Tilos: The Aegean island betting on a green future Today we are heading to a remote island in the Aegean, Tilos. The island has already been producing most of its own electricity through solar and wind, and this week authorities announced that more than 80% of Tilos’ trash is now being recycled, with a recycling plant replacing the island’s landfill. Derek Gatopoulos, a correspondent for the Associated Press who has been covering news in Greece... 14 λεπτά
13 Μαϊ 2022 The American far-right and the Orthodox Church NPR recently highlighted how Orthodox Christian churches in the US are drawing in far-right American converts that show strong strains of nativism and white nationalism, along with a strong admiration for authoritarianism and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Dr. Sarah Riccardi-Swartz and Dr. Aram Sariksian join Thanos Davelis to look at this phenomenon and explore what the broader implications... 15 λεπτά