19 Μαρ Does Erdogan's willingness to meet with Kurdish leaders signal a shift in the peace process with the PKK? For months Turkey’s President Erdogan has avoided wading into the latest peace process with Turkey’s Kurds and the PKK. Last week he broke his silence, saying he was prepared to meet with members of the country’s pro-Kurdish DEM Party who have played a key role in talks with Abdullah Ocalan. Amberin Zaman, Al-Monitor’s chief correspondent based in Paris and covering major stories on Turkey, the... 14 λεπτά
18 Μαρ The Greece, Cyprus, Israel partnership, shifting geopolitics, and Mediterranean stability Last week on Thursday the foreign ministers of Greece, Cyprus and Israel met in Athens, a meeting that put their trilateral relationship back in the spotlight. This meeting also came as the region deals with important questions that range from the future of a post-Assad Syria to Washington’s commitment to European security. Dr. Gallia Lindenstrauss, a senior fellow at Israel's National... 10 λεπτά
17 Μαρ Prime Minister Mitsotakis' new cabinet Late last week Prime Minister Mitsotakis announced his broadest cabinet reshuffle yet in the wake of national protests over the handling of the Tempe train crash two years ago. As Mitsotakis looks to rebuild trust with voters, his cabinet is also becoming younger. The Prime Minister promoted several ministers in their 40s, emphasizing the need for younger leaders who can energize governance... 16 λεπτά
14 Μαρ Greece and the growing rift between the US and Europe The past few months have rocked the Transatlantic relationship, as European leaders try to come to terms with a growing rift between Europe and the US that ranges from Ukraine to questions about America’s overall commitment to European defense and security. As the gap between Europe and America widens, this is also raising key questions in Greece, a key US ally and member of the EU. Ian Lesser,... 13 λεπτά
13 Μαρ A turning point for Syria's Kurds? A deal signed earlier this week by Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and the commander in chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazlum Kobane, is viewed by many as a turning point for Syria’s Kurds. It also comes amid escalating violence across Syria which has cast serious doubts over al-Sharaa’s ability to earn the trust of his people and govern. Steven Cook, the Eni... 13 λεπτά
12 Μαρ Mitsotakis looks to shake things up Almost two years into his second term, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is now set to reboot his government, with announcements of a cabinet reshuffle expected later this week or early next week. The move comes after a string of national protests over the Tempe rail crash, and amid an uncertain geopolitical environment that is raising a number of questions across Europe. Nick Malkoutzis, the... 12 λεπτά
11 Μαρ Greece’s population decline and its need for growth For many, the economic crisis that gripped Greece in the previous decade is over. However, its legacy is still there, and it goes well beyond the country’s economy. One such legacy is Greece’s birthrate, which was already declining, but the crisis accelerated its fall. As Greece faces a declining population, it also needs to ensure economic growth, and the question many are asking, including... 14 λεπτά
10 Μαρ Realigning US policy to reflect Turkey's drift away from the West Late last week a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives introduced a piece of legislation that would redesignate Turkey as a Near Eastern country at the State Department, rather than a European country. The legislation followed a hearing in the House on Turkey, where serious concerns about Turkey’s role as a US and NATO ally were expressed. Endy Zemenides, HALC’s... 11 λεπτά
7 Μαρ Europe's security, Greece, and the challenge of Turkish revisionism Turkey’s Erdogan has once again played up his country’s importance on the world stage - especially when it comes to defense issues - telling Europeans that their security is “unthinkable without Turkey.” These comments come despite Ankara’s well documented and aggressive moves in the region, from the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean to the Caucasus. Michael Rubin, the director of policy... 12 λεπτά
6 Μαρ A US vote of confidence in Lebanon? Despite the Trump administration’s 90-day freeze on foreign aid, the State Department announced it was unfreezing $95 million in military assistance to Lebanon. The move is seen as a vote of confidence from the US in the new political order emerging in Lebanon, and in its efforts to continue to degrade Hezbollah. Steven Howard, the Director of Policy and Outreach at the American Task Force on... 18 λεπτά
5 Μαρ Alexandroupoli: An essential regional hub for Greece, the US, and NATO Last week, a fake news report claiming the US was going to ditch Alexandroupoli put the northern Greek port city in the spotlight. This report even reached the Oval Office, where President Trump quickly shut down the story. In the wake of the story, Kathimerini recently took a deep dive into the numbers, looking at how Alexandroupoli has become an essential hub for both commercial and military... 10 λεπτά
4 Μαρ Germany's recent election and why it matters for Europe Germany’s recent election paved the way for the leader of the opposition conservative Christian Democrats, Friedrich Merz, to take over as chancellor once coalition talks wrap up. The election is also raising broader questions about German and European politics, with the far-right AfD making big gains, while the question remains whether Merz is up to the challenge given the new geopolitical... 16 λεπτά
3 Μαρ PKK leader Ocalan's call for peace between Turkey and the Kurds Last week Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the PKK, called on the movement to lay down its arms and dissolve. Ocalan’s historic announcement has many hoping that it will bring an end to nearly 4 decades of conflict between Ankara and the country’s Kurds. On Friday, Thanos Davelis spoke to Giran Ozcan, the Executive Director of the Kurdish Peace Institute and a former representative of... 11 λεπτά
28 Φεβ Trump threatens to hit the EU with 25% tariffs On Wednesday President Trump said the EU was formed to “screw the United States,” then announced he would hit the EU with 25% tariffs. This has prompted a reaction from European officials and capitals, who point out that the EU has had the opposite effect, fostering closer business ties and trade links with the US. Maria Demertzis, the chief economist for Europe at the Conference Board in... 11 λεπτά
27 Φεβ Europe in Trump's new world President Donald Trump’s return to office has been described as an “electroshock” in Europe, with leading politicians like Germany’s Friedrich Merz openly pledging “independence from the US.” Aside from his antagonistic approach toward Europe - from security to tariffs - Trump is also sending a clear signal that he wants to leave European affairs to Europeans while the US pivots toward China.... 9 λεπτά
26 Φεβ Demonstrations, global uncertainty, and the test for Greece's political system Greece is bracing for demonstrations that will bring the country to a halt this Friday, as it marks the two-year anniversary of the Tempe rail crash - the country’s worst ever rail disaster in which 57 people died. The public outcry is testing the political system, from the government to the opposition, with Prime Minister Mitsotakis acknowledging public demands for truth and justice while... 11 λεπτά
25 Φεβ Trump, Russia, and the possibility of a Ukraine deal Monday, February 24, marked three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As President Trump looks to bring a swift end to the war, his and his officials’ statements on Ukraine, President Zelensky, and European security, along with the decision to bypass allies and engage in talks with Russia’s Putin, have left many in the West with a deep sense of unease. Thomas Graham,... 13 λεπτά
24 Φεβ Is Turkey finding itself marginalized in the Trump 2.0 era? While Turkey may have expected that a second Trump term would mean improved ties with the White House, the first month of the Trump administration has shown us that Washington still views Turkey as an unreliable partner. In fact, Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent engagements with the Middle East point to a regional strategy that seems to marginalize Ankara. Sinan Ciddi, a non-resident... 12 λεπτά
21 Φεβ Cyprus and Egypt sign "pivotal" energy agreements Earlier this week Cypriot President Christodoulides was in Egypt where the two countries signed two energy agreements that he described as “pivotal”. The deals would enable the export of gas from Cyprus’s offshore fields to Egypt for liquefaction and re-export to Europe, and, as President Christodoulides posted on X, “are game changers for the region and beyond”. Dr. Theodoros Tsakiris, a... 14 λεπτά
20 Φεβ The new crackdown brewing in Turkey Earlier this week we saw Turkish police detain 282 people accused of ties to the PKK. This included journalists, politicians, and academics. These arrests are taking place as Ankara continues to remove elected pro-Kurdish mayors from their posts. At the same time, they coincide with reports that a deal could be at hand over the country’s Kurdish question. Piotr Zalewski, The Economist's Turkey... 11 λεπτά