Recent reports indicate that the White House is looking to find a way to move past Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 missiles, and pave the way for Ankara to return to the F-35 program. Sinan Ciddi and Bradley Bowman, the authors of the recent op-ed “S-400s or not, don’t give Turkey the F-35”, join Thanos Davelis to make the case that even if Turkey gives up the S-400s, F-35s should be off the table for both practical and moral reasons.

Bradley Bowman is senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), and Sinan Ciddi is a senior fellow at FDD and director of its Turkey Program.

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

S-400s or not, don’t give Turkey the F-35

US expands military footprint in Greece as priorities evolve

Foreign minister in Benghazi Sunday for high-level talks

While everyone’s attention has been on the Middle East over the past weeks, I want to turn us to the Black Sea. The Black Sea is not just critical to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine, but it is a key part of the wider standoff between Moscow and the West, raising questions about European security and drawing in other powers as well like Turkey and the US. Dimitar Bechev, a senior fellow with Carnegie Europe, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at why the Black Sea is increasingly on the West and Europe’s radar.

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

The Black Sea Has Become the Fulcrum of Europe’s Security

US sanctions on Turkey could be lifted, envoy says

S-400s or not, don’t give Turkey the F-35

Rival leaders in Cyprus will meet informally with UN chief this month

A scandal involving EU funds and farm subsidies has rocked the Greek government and is the lead story coming out of Greece. Over the weekend we saw the resignation of a few ministers, including migration minister and former agriculture minister Makis Voridis, and we’ve seen Prime Minister Mitsotakis acknowledge the government’s failure while announcing steps to address the issue. Nektaria Stamouli, the deputy editor in chief of Kathimerini's English Edition and Politico's Eastern Mediterranean correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis to look into this story.

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

Greece names new ministers after high-level resignations over farm scandal

Greek farm scandal triggers top-level government resignations

Mitsotakis: Task force to trace illegal farmer subsidies

‘We failed’: Mitsotakis addresses OPEKEPE scandal and party’s role

Turkey detains 120 opposition officials including former mayor

We’re turning to Turkey today, where Turkish markets rallied on Monday after a Turkish court adjourned a case that could force the removal of the main opposition party's leader. Despite this decision, there is still rising political uncertainty in the country as Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu remains imprisoned, and questions remain about the direction Turkey’s economy is heading. Wolfango Piccoli, the co-founder of risk analysis company Teneo, joins Thanos Davelis as we dig into these developments.

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

Turkish Markets Rally After Key Opposition Case Adjourned

Turkey’s economic woes catch up with Erdoğan 

Cyprus invites Erdogan to summit despite long rift over 1974 invasion

Inviting the invader?

Trump Lifts Sanctions on Syria, Tightening His Embrace of Its New Leader

Since President Trump stepped back into the Oval Office, Greece has been on the lookout for the arrival of a new US ambassador. While nominee Kimberly Guilfoyle has yet to go through her Senate hearing, the US ambassador in Ankara, Tom Barrack, seems to be charting a new course for US-Turkey ties. Tom Ellis, the editor in chief of Kathimerini’s English Edition, joins Thanos Davelis as we break down why the US can not afford to be under-represented in Southeast Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.

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

No US ambassador in Athens

US envoy signals restart in US–Turkey relations as F-35 thaw begins

Subsidy scandal shakes ruling party

‘We failed’: Mitsotakis addresses OPEKEPE scandal and party’s role

Greece names new ministers after high-level resignations over farm scandal

Severe heat wave hits southern Europe and raises wildfire risks

Firefighters in Turkey battle to contain wildfires for second day

Today we’re turning to Greece’s south, and looking at developments in Libya which are increasingly moving onto Athens’ radar. Greece is closely monitoring recent energy agreements between Libya’s Tripoli-based government and Turkey, and is moving ships south of Crete amid a new surge in migrants crossing the Mediterranean from Libya and heading to Greece. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at Libya, and break down what recent developments there could mean for Athens.

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

Turkey to start exploring for gas off Libya

Mitsotakis: EU must use ‘carrot and stick’ in approach to migration

Erdogan says Trump would join Ukraine peace talks in Turkey if Putin attends

EU leaders seek a big boost in Ukraine military support but make little progress on Russia sanctions

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited Turkey late last week for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the first formal meeting of its kind and a move Yerevan described as a "historic" step. Despite previous efforts - and a slew of concessions by Pashinyan to both Azerbaijan and Turkey over the past years - there has been little tangible progress in normalizing relations. Dr. Laurence Broers, an associate fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at Chatham House and an expert on the South Caucasus region, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at this normalization effort.

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

Armenia's Pashinyan, Turkey's Erdogan to hold 'historic' talks amid Iran-Israel war

Armenian PM Pashinyan meets Erdogan in Turkey on 'historic' visit

Armenian prime minister discusses reconciliation with Erdogan in landmark Turkey visit

PM touts defense spending at NATO summit

Libya, Turkey sign MoU on offshore areas, Athens reiterates rejection

A few days ago the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, Syria, was bombed in a terrorist attack that left dozens of people dead. The attack has left Syria’s Christians struggling to understand why their community was targeted, and wondering if they can rely on the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa for safety. Nadine Maenza joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at what this deadly attack means for Syria’s Christians and minorities.

Nadine Maenza is the President of the IRF Secretariat, an international organization focused on building infrastructure to support the religious freedom movement globally. She also serves as a Global Fellow at the Wilson Center, and previously served as chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

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

Syria's Christians ask 'Why us?' after suicide bombing at Damascus church

Attack on Christians threatens Syria's postwar cohesion

Syrian Christian leader chides president over deadly church bombing

Greece to deploy frigates off Libya to curb increased migrant flows, PM says

Wildfires wreak widespread destruction on Chios

Authorities begin damage assessment in Chios, woman arrested for arson

We’re turning our attention to the Hague today, where NATO leaders are gathering this week for a two day summit. While European allies - keen to avoid clashing with President Trump - already agreed to Washington’s demands that they increase defense spending, key questions loom over Ukraine, the Middle East, and the future of the transatlantic alliance. Ian Lesser, the vice president and Brussels chief of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into what’s at stake at this summit.

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

Weathering the Storm: The Hague Summit and the Future of NATO

NATO members agree to increase defense spending to 5%

How Europe would fill an America-shaped hole in NATO

Iranian spies target bases on Crete and Cyprus

Live Updates: Israel and Iran Agree to Cease-Fire Announced by Trump

Israel accuses Iran of violating ceasefire, vows to 'respond forcefully'

Turkey’s latest move to submit a new so-called maritime spatial plan to UNESCO laying claim to half of the Aegean Sea is once again putting the spotlight on its revisionist Blue Homeland doctrine, and raising questions about its commitment to maintaining calm in the region. 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 take a closer look at this development, breaking down what it means for Greece and the sense of calm that has prevailed over the past few years in the Aegean. 

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

Turkey draws line of marine influence right down the Aegean Sea

Athens navigates the day after the US inserted itself into the wars in Israel

Middle East conflict’s intensity, duration to shape impact on Greek economy 

Shipping faces elevated risk, Strait of Hormuz closure looms

FM to visit Libya amid maritime tensions