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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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....

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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Yannis Palaiologos, Kathimerini’s Brussels correspondent, is back on the Greek Current to break down the latest developments in Europe when it comes to tackling the coronavirus pandemic and its vaccine rollout. This includes Brussels’ fight to maintain solidarity over its pan-EU vaccine plan after evidence emerged of member states breaking away to strike their own side deals with suppliers, and...

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This weekend Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias discussed a range of issues Greece is looking to tackle in 2021 in an all-inclusive interview with Kathimerini, including the upcoming exploratory talks with Turkey, strengthening ties with neighboring countries in the Western Balkans, extending Greece’s territorial sea on its west coast, and steps to improve US-Greek relations. Vassilis Nedos,...

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Washington, DC journalist Petros Kasfikis joins our podcast to give us his first hand account of the troubling attack on the US Capitol this past Wednesday. We also look at the other key news and developments coming out of the nation’s capital this week, including President elect Biden’s announcement to appoint Amanda Sloat as Director for Europe at the National Security Council and Victoria...

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A pro-Donald Trump rally on Wednesday devolved into unrest and insurrection as rioters overwhelmed the Capitol Police and stormed Congress, temporarily shutting down a vote to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s win. The scenes of chaos have left the nation and the world shaken. Wednesday also saw the Democrats take control of the Senate after results in Georgia’s election confirmed the victory...

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A town in northeast Syria is increasingly becoming a battleground between Turkish-backed groups and US-backed forces amid fears of a new large-scale Turkish offensive. We look at the situation in Syria with Dr. Aykan Erdemir, and also break down President elect Joe Biden's announcement to appoint Brett McGurk to a senior role at the NSC managing the Middle East and North Africa.Dr. Aykan...

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After a rift that fractured the Arab world and the Middle East for more than three years, Gulf Arab leaders signed an agreement on "solidarity and stability" at a summit on Tuesday aimed at ending an embargo against Qatar. Today’s agreement follows Saudi Arabia’s decision to reopen its borders and airspace to Qatar for the first time since the blockade began. Retired Ambassador Patrick Theros...

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Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a cabinet reshuffle a few days into the new year and almost two years into his four-year term. Most of the top ministers in key posts remain in place, indicating a policy continuity for the economy and foreign affairs, but there were a few notable additions. One of those is Nicolas Yatromanolakis, who’s appointment as deputy culture minister...

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