The Greek Current

Over the summer we’ve read about issues of water scarcity on Greece’s islands, many of them struggling to find ways to meet demand during the summer - especially as tourists swarm to the islands. New warnings, however, indicate that Greece’s countryside and the city of Athens could face their own water crisis. Experts have warned that if droughts persist, Athens would run out of water in another four years. This has spurred the government into action, and it has announced a series of ambitious water projects. John Psaropoulos joins Thanos Davelis to look into the challenge that Greece is up against.

John Psaropoulos is an independent journalist and Al Jazeera's correspondent in southeast Europe. He publishes Hellenica, a weekly deep dive into Greek current affairs and history. You can find it on Substack.com.

Read John Psaropoulos’ latest in Hellenica here: Greece fights climate emergency with huge waterworks as Athens risks going thirsty

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

Attica faces water shortages due to receding Lake Mornos

The tug of war with Berlin over migration

Salvagers launch new attempt to tow an oil tanker blown up by Yemen’s Houthi rebels

Earlier this year Europeans seemed to wrap up years of negotiations to pass a new migration pact. Now, Germany has decided to impose temporary controls on its land borders in an immigration crackdown. This is leading to a string of reactions across Europe, with frontline states like Greece increasingly concerned about the possibility of a “domino effect” that would see other member states take similar steps. Alexandra Voudouri, Kathimerini’s correspondent in Brussels, joins Thanos Davelis to look into whether the nightmare of closed borders could once again become a reality in Europe. 

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

Concern over a migration domino effect

'Unacceptable': Neighbours slam Germany for new border control measures

Unauthorized migration into the EU declined despite heated politics

Mitsotakis and Christodoulides to meet in Athens for linkup deal

‘Blue Homeland’ debuts at Turkish schools

All eyes have been on Thessaloniki these days as the Thessaloniki International Fair is putting a spotlight on Greece’s second city. Beyond the droves of politicians, diplomats and business leaders visiting the city, this was an opportunity to shine a light on the crucial role that Thessaloniki can play in an evolving region. Endy Zemenides, HALC’s Executive Director, joins Thanos Davelis to look at how Thessaloniki is positioning itself to play a key role in this new international setting.

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

Thessaloniki’s potential role in connecting initiatives

CYA Hellenic Executive Program

Rama celebrating his own goal

Cyprus and US sign bilateral defense cooperation roadmap

Turkey recently took delivery of its first German-built T-214 submarine with air-independent propulsion system, a submarine that falls in the same category as the Greek Papanikolis. The news sparked discussions in Athens about whether Greece is falling behind its neighbor and nominal ally at sea. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis to look into this development, break down what the situation at sea looks like, and explore how Greece plans to position itself as a key player at sea in the coming years. 

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

Arms race with Turkey a Sisyphean trial

The great EU Commission puzzle: Who we think will get each portfolio

Difficult day after for headless SYRIZA

SYRIZA political drama in the spotlight

This weekend Prime Minister Mitsotakis delivered his keynote address at the Thessaloniki International Fair. While he made it clear he was not showing up with a bag of gifts, he did announce a number of programs with a 2027 horizon, and put the issue of tackling issues related to over-tourism on the table as well. At the same time in Athens, SYRIZA leader Stefanos Kasselakis lost a no-confidence motion, throwing the main opposition party into further turmoil. Nick Malkoutzis, the co-founder of Macropolis.gr, joins Thanos Davelis with the key takeaways from Mitsotakis’ speech in Thessaloniki and the turmoil in SYRIZA.

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

Tight, targeted spending, with a 2027 horizon

Greece cracks down on excessive tourism

SYRIZA leader Kasselakis falls in no-confidence motion

Greece, Saudi Arabia talks to salvage tanker

Tuesday is Cyprus' last chance to end its energy isolation

Are Turkish-Egyptian relations entering a “new phase”? This week Egypt’s President al-Sisi traveled to Ankara to meet with Turkish President Erdogan, a visit that came after over a decade of tensions between the two countries that spanned from Libya to the Eastern Mediterranean and saw Erdogan describe his Egyptian counterpart as a “tyrant”. Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Thanos Davelis to explore whether we are seeing relations between Turkey and Egypt turn a new page, and break down what this means for the region.

Read Steven Cook’s latest book here: The End of Ambition: America’s Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East

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Egypt's Sisi makes first presidential visit to Turkey in 12 years

Egypt’s el-Sisi says Turkey visit paves way for ‘new phase’ in relations

Turkey's Role in NATO Comes Under Scrutiny

Summer 2024 was world's warmest on record

Chevron’s plan for Aphrodite

A series of attacks in the Red Sea by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have left a Greek flagged ship, the Sounion, stranded, threatening to spill its 1 million barrels of oil into the sea. Greece has taken the lead in coordinating efforts to evacuate and tow the Sounion, but the threat of environmental disaster remains large. Bradley Bowman, the Senior Director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, joins Thanos Davelis to look into the ongoing crisis in the Red Sea, the role of Iran in supporting the Houthis, the efforts to avoid an environmental disaster, and break down what more can be done to protect shipping and thwart the Houthis.

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

Yemen’s Houthi rebels target oil tanker in the Red Sea. US says rebels also hit Saudi-flagged tanker

Houthis Attack Two More Tankers in Red Sea, Sparking Fears of Environmental Catastrophe

Greece, Saudis Coordinate to Avert Red Sea Oil Tanker Disaster

Drought dries up lake to reveal sunken Greek village

Re-emergence of Greece’s sunken village shows extent of rainfall crisis

Egypt's Sisi makes first presidential visit to Turkey in 12 years

Ever since Vice President Kamala Harris replaced President Biden in the presidential race, the question for many - especially in Greece and Cyprus - is what to expect from a Harris presidency on foreign policy, and who would have the ear of a potential President Harris. Endy Zemenides, the Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, joins Thanos Davelis to look into Vice President Harris’ foreign policy track record, and break down what Greece and Cyprus should expect in the event that Kamala Harris is sworn in as the 47th President of the United States.

Read Endy Zemenides’ latest piece in Kathimerini here: A Harris Doctrine?

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PM to send restart message in Thessaloniki

Forging a Balkan front on electricity rates

Today, September 3rd, marks 50 years since Andreas Papandreou founded PASOK, a political party that came to play a key role in Greece from the restoration of democracy to the financial crisis. Harris Mylonas, an Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University and the executive producer of the award winning documentary Searching for Andreas: Political Leadership in Times of Crisis, joins Thanos Davelis to look into PASOK’s 50 year legacy, from its founding under the leadership of Andreas Papandreou to the challenges it faces today as it looks to redefine itself.

You can watch the documentary on Andreas Papandreou here: Searching for Andreas: Political Leadership in Times of Crisis

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

PASOK turning 50

An ethnic Greek politician and EU lawmaker is released on probation in Albania

Beleri granted early release after 16 months in Albanian prison

Initial agreement reached for interconnector 

Interconnector agreement reached

While summer may be winding down, water scarcity, overcrowded streets and rising housing costs are infuriating locals across southern European countries - especially those that rely on tourism. Greece is no exception, and we are seeing reactions to overtourism not only on Greece’s top island destinations, but also in cities like Athens. Professor Dimitris Vayanos joins Thanos Davelis to look into Greece’s reliance on tourism and explore whether it is time for Greece to change its tourism model, improving what is a vital product for the country while transitioning to a more innovative economy. 

Dimitris Vayanos, is a professor of finance at the London School of Economics, the co-editor of the book "Beyond Austerity: Reforming the Greek Economy," and a member of the Pissarides Commission which developed a growth plan for Greece at the request of the Greek government.

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

Analysis: Is it time for Greece to change its tourism model?

From tourism to an innovative economy

Greece and Saudi Arabia lead effort to tow Greek tanker attacked in Red Sea

Gerapetritis raises Kasos issue with Fidan