With the summer season in full swing, it’s not just vacations, the islands, and pristine beaches that are top of mind for Greeks. Global uncertainty, crises in the Middle East, a cost of living crisis, and the specter of touristification remain key concerns, and tackling these challenges is going to be tricky as Greece inches toward national elections. The economy is obviously at the heart of many discussions, and while Greece is on a much stronger financial footing today than in the previous decade, it will still need to move carefully if it’s going to weather the twin storms of global uncertainty and political changes at home. That’s the focus of the Greek government as Prime Minister Mitsotakis engages with voters across the country and prepares an economic package for the Thessaloniki International Fair in September, one that he hopes will boost his party’s chances in the elections. A key element of this discussion is also inevitably going to be whether Greece’s key industries - tourism and shipping - can continue to serve as drivers of economic growth. When it comes to tourism, Greece has seen record numbers of visitors over the years. This success, however, is also raising important concerns about over-tourism, even on more remote Cycladic islands like Amorgos. When it comes to shipping, Greece’s global position is unquestionable, and Greek ships are critical for the global economy. Much of this success comes down to a long tradition of seamanship, but also to a unique development in the 20th century involving the US in the wake of World War II.  Thanos Davelis digs into all of these issues and stories this week with experts Wolfango Piccoli, Nick Malkoutzis, Alia Malek, and John Psaropoulos. A little more info on our guests: Wolfango Piccoli is the head of geopolitics at the London-based CEO and board advisory firm Consello. Nick Malkoutzis is the co-founder of Macropolis.gr. Alia Malek is an author and journalist whose story "Breaking Ground: A road, a port, and the specter of touristification on the small Greek island of Amorgos" was recently published. John Psaropoulos is an independent journalist, Al Jazeera's correspondent in southeast Europe, and publisher of Hellenica on Substack. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.  

On July 20th we marked 52 years since phase one of Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus. For 52 years, Turkey has never been held accountable for this illegal invasion and occupation, for the division it imposed on the island, or for the lives and communities it shattered.  Today, despite international condemnation, UN resolutions, and calls for negotiations, the Cyprus issue remains one of the world's longest-running unresolved challenges. While progress toward a solution has been elusive over the last five decades, reports indicate there is a new effort afoot to revive peace talks as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres prepares to visit Cyprus in the coming days. Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus was also part of the discussion at the European Parliament this month, as the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the impact of Turkey’s 1974 invasion on Cypriot women and girls. This is seen as an important step acknowledging Cypriot women’s experiences of violence during the invasion, including sexual violence, that can hopefully open the door for survivors to speak and be heard openly and safely. The Cyprus invasion isn’t just an open wound for the island, but for the Greek diaspora. 1974 was a major turning point, especially in the US, as Greek-Americans mobilized across the country, becoming politically active and advocating in Washington, DC for justice.  Andrew Novo, Harris Georgiades, Natalie Alkiviadou, and Alexander Kitroeff join Thanos Davelis as we look into both phases of Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus in 1974, whether we could be seeing a new push from the UN for talks, the importance of the European Parliament’s resolution on the impact of Turkey’s invasion on Cypriot women, and how the Cyprus invasion mobilized the Greek American community. A little more info on our guests: Andrew Novo is a professor of strategic studies at the National Defense University and adjunct professor at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service and Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. Harris Georgiades is Chairman of the Foreign and European Affairs Committee of Cyprus’ Parliament, Chairman of the “Clerides Institute”, and a former Minister of Finance. Dr. Natalie Alkiviadou is a Senior Research Fellow at the Future of Free Speech project at Vanderbilt University. Alexander Kotroeff is a professor of history with an expertise in Greece and the diaspora. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey hit the big screen this week. Whether you are a fan of Nolan’s work or not, the reactions and debates we’ve seen across the board remind us of Homer’s immortal appeal, and why the story of Odysseus’ return to Ithaca has captivated audiences around the world for three millennia. As Daniel Mendelsohn wrote recently, “The Odyssey is a remarkably contemporary story not only because of its hero, but because of the nature of the world around him..” a “postwar world where the old certainties have disappeared.” Those watching current events unfold may have a similar feeling these days.  With the ceasefire with Iran breaking down, we’re left with a good amount of uncertainty over what comes next. This is true for the Strait of Hormuz, for the Gulf, and by extension for the Eastern Mediterranean. Bringing us to Greece, this uncertainty is playing out on the political scene, where debates about early elections are picking up steam, while SYRIZA, which was once in government, has been in free fall over the last years. A new round of resignations this week has many pondering if the party has completed its historical cycle. In the spirit of Odysseus’ travels across the Mediterranean, we’re also heading to Turkey, where Ankara and Cairo took steps to deepen their ties when it comes to their defense cooperation and the defense industry. Daniel Mendelsohn, Elisa Catalano Ewers, Nikos Konstantaras, and Vassilis Nedos join Thanos Davelis as we look into the timeless appeal of The Odyssey, the collapse of the ceasefire with Iran and its wider ramifications, the lessons from SYRIZA’s rise and fall, and the rapprochement between Turkey and Egypt. A little more info on our guests: Daniel Mendelsohn is the author of “An Odyssey: A Father, a Son, and an Epic”,  whose translation of "The Odyssey” was published in paperback this spring. Elisa Catalano Ewers is a Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Nikos Konstandaras is a columnist with Kathimerini. Vassilis Nedos is Kathimerini's diplomatic and defense editor. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

President Trump caused a stir this week at the NATO summit as he praised the host, Turkish President Erdogan, and ⁠said he was willing to lift sanctions on Turkey and sell Ankara F-35 fighter jets.  These comments saw an immediate reaction on Capitol Hill as members of Congress urged House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to be prepared to use every legislative tool available to prevent Turkey’s reinstatement into the F-35 program, reminding them that US law prohibits the transfer of F-35s to Turkey unless Ankara no longer possesses the Russian S-400 system.  In the meantime, new reports emerged on Friday that a deal could be taking shape that would see Turkey transfer its S-400 missiles ​to an unnamed Gulf country in order to convince Washington to lift sanctions and pave the way for its re-entry into the F-35 program. F-35s were not the only item on the NATO summit agenda making headlines. As reporters on the ground have noted, NATO leaders were also making quiet progress on a new kind of NATO that will see them take on more and more responsibility for the defense of Europe. Something that unfortunately, but predictably, did not receive the attention it deserves as world leaders gathered in Ankara was Turkey’s alarming human rights record. Endy Zemenides, Steven Erlanger, Steven Cook, and Tyler Stapleton join Thanos Davelis this week as we explore the main takeaways from the NATO summit in Ankara, break down President Trump’s comments on selling F-35s to Turkey, discuss Western hypocrisy when it comes to human rights in Turkey, and look at the latest reports that a deal could be in play over the S400s. A little more info on our guests: Endy Zemenides is HALC's Executive Director. Steven Erlanger is the chief diplomatic correspondent for The New York Times covering Europe. Steven Cook is the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Tyler Stapleton is the senior director of government relations at FDD Action. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

In a few days Turkey will play host to NATO’s leaders for a high-stakes summit that some anticipate could be historic. The two main protagonists at the summit will be President Trump, who has consistently slammed NATO since his return to office, and Turkish President Erdogan, who is likely to use this summit to present himself as an indispensable ally and attempt to legitimize his harsh crackdown on political dissent. In the buildup to the summit we’ve seen President Trump approve a $700 million arms sale to Turkey of fighter jet engines, a move that’s seen as a “gift” to Erdogan. Vice President JD Vance has also raised eyebrows calling for a legal review of whether the conditions exist for a future transfer of F-35 fighter jets to Ankara. Both moves have caused a stir in Congress, and a joint resolution of disapproval was introduced in the House looking to block the sale of jet engines. In the buildup to the summit we’ve also seen reports that Turkey is planning to allow the reopening, after more than 50 years, of Halki Theological seminary. The reports follow a meeting between Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Turkey’s Erdogan, and it is expected that the issue will feature during President Trump’s meeting with Erdogan on the sidelines of the summit. Looking beyond this upcoming summit, this past month also marked 10 years since voters in the UK voted for Brexit. Brexit and Grexit - which was something many thought could be a possibility at the height of the financial crisis in Greece - had dominated the headlines at the time. Today, as the UK prepares for its seventh prime minister in 10 years, the trajectories of both countries couldn’t be starker.  Aaron Stein, Ino Afentouli, Elizabeth Prodromou, and Simon Nixon join Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at the stakes ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, President Trump’s move to sell fighter jet engines to Turkey, reports that Halki seminary could reopen, and the lessons from Greece ten years after Brexit.  A little more info on our guests: Aaron Stein is the President of the Foreign Policy Research Institute. Ino Afentouli is a Senior Policy Advisor and Head of the Observatory of Geopolitics and Diplomacy at ELIAMEP. Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou is an expert on religious freedom issues and cultural heritage and a former vice chair and commissioner of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. Simon Nixon is an independent journalist, Kathimerini columnist, and the publisher of the Wealth of Nations newsletter. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

This week marked 30 years since Andreas Papandreou, the founder and longtime leader of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement - PASOK, passed away, and Greeks are taking this opportunity to reassess his legacy. Consistently ranked among the most influential leaders of the post-junta era in Greece, Papandreou left his mark on Greek politics and society. Supporters will point to a charismatic leader who gave voice to the “unprivileged”, while his opponents slam him as a populist whose decisions continue to weigh on Greece. Regardless of where one falls on this spectrum, it’s undeniable that his impact on the country was profound.  Harris Mylonas, Kostis Kornetis, Alan Makovsky, and Lambrini Rori join Thanos Davelis as we dig into Andreas Papandreou’s legacy, exploring what brought him to power, how he reshaped Greece’s political culture after the collapse of the dictatorship, his controversial approach to diplomacy and how this impacted US-Greece relations, and his lasting legacy in Greek politics today. A little more info on our guests: Harris Mylonas is a Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University’s Elliott School and the producer of the documentary “Searching for Andreas”. Kostis Kornetis is an assistant professor of contemporary history at the Autonomous University of Madrid, a lead historian at Greece’s National Research Institute, and author of the books A Collective Biography of Southern European Democratization and Children of the Dictatorship. Alan Makovsky is a senior fellow for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress who worked in the State Department from 1983 to 1994, where he covered southern Europe, including Greece, at the height of the Papandreou era. Lambrini Rori is an assistant professor of political analysis at the University of Athens. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.