In a recent speech Turkish President Erdogan praised Syrians who were born and raised in Turkey, speak Turkish, and are now in Syria, saying, "Right next door to us… a brother nation that speaks our same language is rising anew from the ashes.” The quote has drawn the attention of experts like Ryan Gingeras, who joins Thanos Davelis as we look into what it tells us about Erdogan’s worldview, and why this is something to keep an eye on as we look at the shifting power dynamics in the Levant.

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Erdogan praises Syrians born and raised in Turkey

From Grexit to Eurogroup chief: Greece’s recovery story

Pierrakakis elected Eurogroup chief

European Commission firmly behind Greece-Cyprus power link

The Trump administration’s NSS - and its scathing critique of Europe - has drawn a lot of attention over the past days. Yet, this is only part of the big picture when we talk about the problems facing European leaders, which include everything from the war in Ukraine - where pressure is mounting - to a sluggish economy and the far right. Steven Erlanger, the chief diplomatic correspondent for The New York Times covering Europe, joins Thanos Davelis to look at the stakes Europe’s leaders face.

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The Challenges to Europe’s Security Go Beyond Trump’s Lack of Support

Tom Barrack: Turkey has to give up the S-400 to return to F-35 program

Mounting pressure on farm policy

Blockades deepen political strain

PM holds talks with senior officials on farmer payments plan as protests escalate

The Economist just highlighted Greece as an example for countries looking to digitalize, recognizing the efforts Athens made between 2018 and 2024 to transform its public services and embrace the digital transformation. Diomidis Spinellis, a former Greek official now with the Athens University of Economics, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at this story.

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Greece is teaching Germany how to get government online

The Greek economy’s drawbacks

Elefsina port tender coming

This weekend we heard Hakan Fidan say he believes Ankara and Washington will find a way to remove CAATSA sanctions "very soon". His comments echo those of US Ambassador Tom Barrack, who was quoted saying that the “hurdle” blocking F-35 access for Turkey might be resolved within 4 to 6 months. Sinan Ciddi, a non-resident senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and an expert on Turkish politics, joins Thanos Davelis as we look to break down why Barrack and Fidan insist a “solution” is within reach despite Turkey refusing to get rid of its Russian S-400s.

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Turkey Closer to Clearing Way for F-35s, Says Trump Ally Barrack

Turkey, US will find way of removing CAATSA sanctions ‘very soon’, Turkish FM says

Berlin-Athens migrant returns ‘understanding’

Iraklio airport resumes flights after farmers end protest

Protesting Greek farmers swarm onto airport tarmac in Crete, forcing halt to flights

The Trump administration’s new National Security Strategy is causing a stir in Europe with its searing critique of America’s closest allies, including a warning that the continent is facing “civilizational decline”. Ian Lesser, the vice president and Brussels chief of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at what some are already calling the “mother of all wake-up calls” from Washington toward Europe.

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Trump Administration Says Europe Faces ‘Civilizational Erasure’

Trump warns Europe faces ‘civilizational erasure’ in explosive new document

U.S. Flips History by Casting Europe—Not Russia—as Villain in New Security Policy

Farmers step up road blockades across Greece

PM urges farmers to scale back protests, promises payments by year-end

Turkey, US will find way of removing CAATSA sanctions ‘very soon’, Turkish FM says

Last week Cyprus and Lebanon signed a long-awaited maritime demarcation deal, an agreement that not only paves the way for potential exploration and energy cooperation, but also checks Turkey’s revisionist “Blue Homeland” doctrine in the Eastern Mediterranean. Constantinos Filis, the director of the Institute of Global Affairs and a professor of international relations at the American College of Greece, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into what’s being called a “historic” deal that also serves to bridge the EU with the Middle East.

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Cyprus–Lebanon deal sets new legal line in the Eastern Med, and Ankara isn’t loving it

Lebanon, Cyprus sign maritime deal, paving way for possible energy exploration

Greece, Bulgaria and Romania sign agreement on Aegean-Black Sea corridor

Cyprus pledges Ukraine will be ''front and center” during EU presidency

Greek farmers are making headlines amid an escalating confrontation with the government, as thousands of tractors continue to block traffic on highways and at border crossings. What began as a dispute over delayed EU-backed subsidy payments linked to a corruption scandal is quickly turning into a political test for the government. Nick Malkoutzis, the co-founder of Macropolis.gr, joins Thanos Davelis to break down the stakes as farmers take to the streets. 

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Farmers dig in as clashes and political tension escalate

Farmers not going anywhere as protest action persists

Christodoulides rolls into Kyiv for face-to-face talks with Zelensky

US presses Athens on Ukraine fund

What’s Tom Barrack, the US Ambassador to Turkey, up to? That’s a question that’s emerged after a recent interview he gave to Kathimerini, where he talked about Washington’s aspiration for a “new regional ordinance” and made head-scratching comments about Greek-Turkish relations and Cyprus. Henri Barkey and Endy Zemenides join Thanos Davelis as we look to tackle this question.

Henri Barkey is an adjunct senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and the Cohen chair in international relations at Lehigh University.

Endy Zemenides is Executive Director of HALC.

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The US ‘goal’ is to serve as a ‘bridge’ in Greek-Turkish ties

PM urges farmers to avoid roadblocks, pledges faster subsidy payments

Greece to repay €5.29 billion early under first memorandum loans

As countries around the world scramble to see who is going to win the AI race, Greece is also looking to secure its own AI future. Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ emphasis on AI, coupled by signature deals with OpenAI and Mistral AI, is putting a spotlight on Greece’s efforts to play a larger role on the AI frontier. Niko Efstathiou, an Athens based journalist and author, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into these developments and explore the ways Greece is betting on AI.

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Mitsotakis meets Mistral AI CEO to discuss AI collaboration

Watch: Συζήτηση Κυριάκου Μητσοτάκη με τον Arthur Mensch | GenAI Summit

Greece joins EU defense program

Farmers blockade highways over payments

With talks over a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war moving along, the latest peace proposals have caught the attention of many, including Cyprus, where Turkey’s 51 year illegal occupation serves as a stark reminder of what happens when revisionist powers are not checked. Harris Georgiades, the Chairman of the Foreign and European Affairs Committee of the Cypriot Parliament, a former Minister of Finance, and the chairman of the Clerides Institute, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at these peace talks, the parallels between what Russia is doing in Ukraine and what Turkey has done for over 50 years in Cyprus, and more.

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Rubio Says ‘Much Work to Do’ After Talks With Ukrainian Delegation

EU tells Trump: You can’t pardon Putin for war crimes in Ukraine 

Γράμμα από το Κίεβο

Europe Fears It Can’t Catch Up in Great Power Competition

Lebanon, Cyprus sign maritime deal, paving way for possible energy exploration

Joint declaration signed in Pope’s historic first visit to Patriarchate