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Expert Daniel Vajdich joins us on the Greek Current today to explore the work that the US International Development Finance Corporation - or the DFC - is doing in Greece and the Western Balkans to promote development and advance strategic US foreign policy priorities through its financing tools. We also look at how the DFC is an important economic tool that can counter efforts by China and...

16 λεπτά

There’s been a flurry of diplomatic activity in the Eastern Mediterranean over the last month and a half, with exploratory talks between Athens and Ankara kicking off, the UN Secretary General calling for the resumption of talks on the Cyprus problem, and Greece signing key strategic agreements with countries like France and Israel. In view of these, developments, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos...

14 λεπτά

William Antholis joins The Greek Current podcast to discuss a broad range of topics from his latest interview with Kathimerini, including the “post-populist” moment the US is going through and the lessons it can learn from Greece’s experience with populism, the US-China relationship and China’s foothold in the Mediterranean with its investment in the port of Piraeus, and the Biden...

19 λεπτά

Harry Mark Petrakis, one of the Greek-American community’s greatest and most beloved authors, passed away at the age of 97 on February 2nd. Petrakis was a major figure in 20th century Chicago literature, and was at the forefront of a movement in which America claimed its identity through its ethnic writers. His focus on the experiences of Greek immigrants in Chicago established him as the...

16 λεπτά

The Islamic State terror group was largely defeated through a coordinated international effort almost two years ago. A recent unclassified report by the US Treasury Department, however, points out that its networks appear to still have access to an estimated $100 million in cash reserves, adding that the Islamic State’s remnants in Syria continue to receive streams of cash from “logistical...

15 λεπτά

Eleftheria Kourtali, a journalist with Kathimerini, joins us to discuss the significance of the European Central Bank’s emergency bond-buying program (PEPP) - which has been one of the main buffers for the Greek economy during this crisis - and looks at what life will be like for Greece after the emergency bond-buying program comes to an end. Eleftheria Kourtali also breaks down how Greece’s...

11 λεπτά

Manfred Weber, the leader of the European People's Party group in the European Parliament and a Member of the European Parliament since 2004, joins The Greek Current to discuss the EU-Turkey relationship and where it is heading, his view on the talks between Greece and Turkey and the need for Ankara to take concrete steps to show it is serious about conflict resolution, and more. We need...

13 λεπτά

In a recent policy paper, titled “A Mediterranean Duel: Erdogan, Sisi and the Fate of Egyptian-Turkish Relations”, expert Nicholas Danforth lays out Turkey and Egypt’s history, explores the causes of tensions between Cairo and Ankara today, and makes the case that despite Turkey’s attempts to mend relations, this effort is unlikely to overcome disagreements between the two countries. We also...

17 λεπτά

Thousands of students and teachers held peaceful demonstrations in Greece’s two biggest cities - Athens and Thessaloniki - on Thursday against proposed education reforms, even defying a weeklong ban on protests imposed as part of measures to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. Students in Greece say the education reforms will harm freedom of expression on campus, while the government argues the...

15 λεπτά

On Monday, neighbors Greece and Turkey began the 61st round of exploratory talks - after a five year hiatus - that aim to settle maritime disputes. The resumption of talks follows a year of tensions in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean that brought Greece and Turkey to the verge of military confrontation last summer. On Monday, Greece also signed an important agreement with France for...

16 λεπτά

For almost a decade Turkey has used both its soft and hard power to expand its influence in Africa as part of a broader broader strategy of becoming a leader of the Islamic and non-Western world. This policy is most visible in Somalia, where Turkey has built its largest military base abroad. Professor Henri Barkey joins The Greek Current to discuss Turkey’s strategy to build influence in...

15 λεπτά

Michael Rubin, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and regional expert, joins The Greek Current to discuss his latest op-ed in Kathimerini, titled “US and Turkey on course for diplomatic, economic collision”, where he makes the case that the test President Biden will most likely have to confront early in his term is not China or Iran, but the growing challenge Turkey poses...

11 λεπτά

Students and lecturers at a top Turkish university have been protesting since early January against a state-appointed rector, fearing that President Erdogan’s growing reach on school campuses will crush what’s left of academic freedom. Meanwhile, an abrupt decision at the end of last year to cancel Islamic prayers at Chora museum has cast doubt on Turkey’s plans to reconvert the monument. Ayla...

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Journalist Amberin Zaman analyzes Turkey's latest attempts at a diplomatic “reset” with the United States, and discusses what is in store for the US-Turkey relationship as the new Biden administration takes over. We also take a look at Syria, and whether the appointment of Brett McGurk to the National Security Council will cause more friction in US-Turkish relations. Finally, we break down...

17 λεπτά

Alexis Papachelas and Tom Ellis - two people who know America as well as anyone in Greece today - join The Greek Current to discuss the new beginning that President Biden's inauguration signals for the US and the world. We look at the phenomenon of "Trumpism" both in the US and in Greece, social media and its outsized influence, and the Biden administration's approach to Turkey and Greece....

17 λεπτά

Today the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held its hearing for Antony Blinken, who is President elect Biden’s nominee for Secretary of State. Among the key concerns Senators expressed were how the incoming administration plans to deal with Iran, China, and Turkey. Jonathan Schanzer, the senior vice president of research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, joins us to break down the...

14 λεπτά

In the third part of a series exploring Turkish President Erdogan’s geopolitical ambitions, the Financial Times looked into a string of extractions of Turkish citizens from countries in the Balkans. This is part of Turkey's global campaign of kidnappings and transnational repression which we covered in last week’s podcast episode with expert Nate Schenkkan. Today, journalist Valerie Hopkins...

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Earlier this month President-elect Biden reached out to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, stating that he looks forward to working with the Patriarch, and adding “we need your leadership” in a handwritten letter. Georgia Logothetis, HALC’s Managing Director, joins us to discuss the significance of this letter and of the relationship between President-elect Biden and Ecumenical Patriarch...

10 λεπτά

Today’s Financial Times piece titled “Turkish intrigue in the Balkans” has brought renewed attention to Ankara’s transnational and illegal campaign of extractions and kidnappings of Turkish nationals in other countries. Nate Schenkkan, the Director for Research Strategy at Freedom House, joins us to discuss this campaign by Turkey which he has been monitoring since 2016, and the broader...

16 λεπτά

Kelly Bjorklund joins The Greek Current to discuss her latest piece in Foreign Policy on the trial against Turkey’s Halkbank for helping Iran evade US sanctions and President Trump's repeated attempts to shield Halkbank and Turkey’s President Erdogan from paying any penalty. We also look at her in-depth interview with former Secretary of State Tillerson on his former boss, the state of the...

14 λεπτά