Seeing little progress in its effort to get back into the F-35 program, Turkey is now turning to the Eurofighter, with reports this week indicating a deal with both the UK and Germany for 40 jets. Tyler Stapleton and Sinan Ciddi, two experts tracking this issue closely, join Thanos Davelis today to look at what this deal means for Turkey and President Erdogan, and whether this could pose a risk for Europe in the long run.

Sinan Ciddi is a non-resident senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and an expert on Turkish politics.

Tyler Stapleton serves as director of congressional relations at FDD Action. He previously spent eight years working in Congress where he served as a senior advisor on national security, foreign policy, defense, and intelligence for two members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

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UK and Germany Agree to Sell Eurofighter Typhoon Fighter Jets to Turkey

UK, Turkey Sign Eurofighter Deal After Germany Gives Nod

Cyprus gets help from other countries to battle huge wildfire that has killed 2

Mitsotakis invites Tripoli to engage in EEZ delimitation talks

Syria has been rocked lately by sectarian violence, something that’s not only putting the country’s minorities on edge, but is also posing a challenge to ongoing US efforts led by Ambassador Tom Barrack to push for the Syrian Kurds’ full integration into the Syrian government. Amberin Zaman, Al-Monitor's chief correspondent covering major stories on the Middle East and North Africa, joins Thanos Davelis today as we dig into this story.

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Suwayda violence boosts Kurds’ leverage as US Syria envoy, SDF chief meet

US envoy urges Syria's Sharaa to revise policy or risk fragmentation

Greece unveils five-pillar plan to tackle growing water scarcity

Turkey nears Eurofighter jet purchase after UK, German agreements

Athens not surprised by Turkey’s Eurofighter acquisition

While Libya - and the Turkish presence there - has long been on Greece’s radar, the war-torn country is now attracting Brussels’ attention as well amid concerns about migration and Russia’s expanding influence there. Jalel Harchaoui, a Libya specialist based in Paris, joins Thanos Davelis as we dig into Europe’s concerns about migration and Russia’s expanding footprint in Libya, and look at Turkey’s charm offensive toward the government in the east.

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We must work with Libyans to stop Putin weaponizing migrants, top EU official says

Tripoli asserts claims against Athens

AJC and HALC urge Congress to block Turkey’s reentry into the F35 program and uphold CAATSA sanctions

Greek companies tour Europe to lure back skilled nationals

Greece is in the middle of a new heatwave that will see temperatures pass 40 degrees celsius - or 104 Fahrenheit - this week. While the government issues warnings to stay out of the sun and remain cool indoors, this is not an option for many Greeks living in buildings that are not designed to cope with these high temperatures. Today we're bringing on Alexia Kalaitzi, an award-winning journalist and features reporter for Kathimerini, who joins Thanos Davelis as we look into the question: How hot is too hot when you’re inside your own home?

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How hot is too hot when you’re inside your home?

Greece to create two national marine parks in Ionian and Aegean Seas, PM says

Sea parks an assertion of sovereignty

Turkey Nears Preliminary Deal for Eurofighter Combat Jet Order, Sources Say

At the beginning of the year Lebanon found itself with a new president, a weakened Hezbollah, and the collapse of Assad in Syria, and many - including leaders in Athens - were asking if now was an opportunity to reimagine Lebanon's future. Today Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into Greece’s ties to Lebanon and its message of support as the country looks to rebuild.

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Greece backs Lebanon’s efforts to restructure its armed forces

Greek PM calls for reunification of Cyprus on anniversary of 1974 invasion

Erdogan visits Turkish-occupied north Cyprus on 51st anniversary of 1974 invasion

Athens hits back at Tripoli sea claims

Over the last decade we’ve gotten used to Congress driving policy on the East Med, yet since President Trump’s inauguration in January, all eyes have been on the executive. Endy Zemenides, HALC’s executive Director, joins Thanos Davelis today to see how Congress - on the heels of passing Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” - is stepping back into the spotlight, introducing key bills on Greece and Cyprus.

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Bill proposes 5-year extension of Cyprus arms embargo waiver

Meng, Bilirakis, Titus, And Malliotakis Introduce Legislation To Support The US-Hellenic Relationship

Kimberly Guilfoyle receives nod as US ambassador to Greece

Tripoli asserts claims against Athens

US lawmakers launch bipartisan effort to block Turkey’s return to F-35 program

Earlier this week it seems President Trump took a new stance on Ukraine, announcing a new plan to speed weapons to the war-torn country along with the threat of a new round of punishing sanctions. At the same time, he doubled down on tariffs this past weekend, threatening 30% tariffs on the EU. Ian Lesser, the vice president and Brussels chief of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, joins Thanos Davelis to look into what these shifts mean for Europe.

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

Trump’s Shift on Ukraine Is Good News for Europe, for Now

Trump intensifies trade war with threat of 30% tariffs on EU, Mexico

Europe's freedom faces greatest threat since WW2, Macron says

Turkish court sentences Erdoğan’s top rival to almost 2 years in prison

Tourism receipts fall despite visitor surge

Recent statistics show that home ownership is declining in Greece, while the number of people living on rent is shooting up. At the same time, the supply of apartments for sale or rent in the center of Athens continues to drop, while prices are on the rise. This is all contributing to a deepening housing crisis for many Greeks. Nikos Roussanoglou, a journalist at Kathimerini covering the economy and the housing market, joins Thanos Davelis to break down these trends, and look at what they mean for Greeks. 

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Share of tenants is growing

House supply keeps declining

Tripoli evasive on maritime boundaries

Bill proposes 5-year extension of Cyprus arms embargo waiver

Meng, Bilirakis, Titus, And Malliotakis Introduce Legislation To Support The US-Hellenic Relationship

Italy and Greece are sounding the alarm in Brussels over a spike in migrant flows from Libya which has seen at least 9,000 people arrive in Crete since the start of the year, most of them in recent weeks. Athens has responded with new tough migration rules, and the Greek navy is also present in the area. Angeliki Dimitriadi, an independent researcher and expert on migration, joins Thanos Davelis as we dig into this latest migration challenge facing the region.

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Italy and Greece sound the alarm over Libya. But allies aren’t rushing to help.

Athens rethinks southern sea strategy

EU trade ministers plan countermeasures to Trump’s ‘unacceptable’ 30% tariffs

Libya files UN complaint over Greek maritime zones

There are few media outlets - let alone businesses or organizations - around the world that can boast 100 years of existence. As of this weekend, Apogevmatini, the Greek newspaper founded in 1925 in Istanbul, can do just that. Niko Efstathiou, an Athens based journalist and author, joins Thanos Davelis to look into the legacy of Apogevmatini, the paper of the Greeks of Istanbul, tracing its history over the last century and exploring the challenges it faces today - from a shrinking Greek community to media freedom in Turkey.

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

Apogevmatini marks centenary as voice of Istanbul’s Greek community

«Απογευματινή»: η ελληνόφωνη εφημερίδα της Κωνσταντινούπολης που κοντεύει να κλείσει 100 χρόνια ζωής

Niko Efstathiou’s tweet on Apogevmatini’s 100 year anniversary

Athens rethinks southern sea strategy

Turkish president hails the start of disarmament by militant Kurdish separatists