British Prime Minister Keir Starmer just called Turkey’s purchase of 20 Eurofighter jets - a deal that has gotten a lot of attention - a “landmark moment.” This move comes as Turkey looks to fill gaps in its aging air-force, and as Ankara attempts to make up ground with countries like Greece and Israel.  Ryan Gingeras, a professor in the Department of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School and an expert on Turkish, Balkan, and Middle East history, joins Thanos Davelis as we break down what Turkey is actually getting in this deal, and what it means for the region.

The views expressed by Professor Gingeras in this interview do not reflect the views of the US government.

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UK signs £8bn Typhoon fighter jet deal with Turkey

Turkey signs deal to buy 20 Eurofighters from Britain for 8 bln pounds

War memorial under 24-hour police guard

Schools close and island life is under threat as Greece reckons with low birth rates

Energy has become a critical piece of the puzzle for the Trump administration as it looks to project strength abroad, and it seems Greece is on Washington’s radar. Richard Goldberg, a senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and director of its newly established Energy and National Security Program, joins Thanos Davelis as we look at America’s quest for energy dominance and the potential for deeper cooperation on this front with Greece and other countries in the Eastern Mediterranean.

As we’ve seen time and time again in the past, the Greek diaspora has always played a key role in standing with Greece in its time of need. World War II was no exception. As Greeks delivered their famous “Ohi” - or “NO” to the Axis powers on October 28th, 1940, Greek-Americans also stepped up to the plate. Professor Alexander Kitroeff, a historian and expert on the Greek diaspora, joins Thanos Davelis as we explore how Greek-Americans took action, and how “Ohi” became a turning point for the Greeks in the US.

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Parades marking World War II campaign to close streets in Athens, Thessaloniki

Turkey signs deal to buy 20 Eurofighters from Britain for 8 bln pounds

UK signs £8bn Typhoon fighter jet deal with Turkey

Best year for Cyprus tourism ever

Last week President Trump hit Russia’s biggest oil producers - Rosneft and Lukoil - with sanctions, a move many see as a major shift from the Trump administration that puts it on the same page as Europe when it comes to pressuring Moscow. Laurence Norman, the European reporter for The Wall Street Journal, joins Thanos Davelis as we look at this shift from President Trump and break down what it means for Europe and the war in Ukraine.

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

U.S. Oil Sanctions Strike at Russia’s Economic Lifeline

Three Years of War in Ukraine: Are Sanctions Against Russia Making a Difference?

Burgum highlights Greece’s role in reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian gas

Powering U.S. Energy Dominance with Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum

Turkey court orders arrest of Istanbul's jailed mayor for 'political espionage'

The British Museum has once again stirred controversy with its latest “Pink Ball” dinner gala taking place in the hall housing the Parthenon Sculptures, a move that has elicited strong reactions from both Greece, cultural heritage experts, and leading advocates for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece. Professor Paul Cartledge, the Vice chairman of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles and a renowned scholar of ancient Greek history, joins Thanos Davelis as we break down why the British Museum’s glitzy gala only adds to the reunification cause.

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

Greece criticizes British Museum dinner among Parthenon Sculptures

British Museum glitzy gala ball, Janet Suzman agrees with Greece and suggests that the publicity adds to the reunification cause

Greek leader pushes EU on joint defense debt

Greece acts on housing crunch as shortages pile pressure on government

Earlier this month we saw Turkey issue a NAVTEX, or a navigational text message warning, for research in the Aegean Sea, a provocative move called out by Greece. This has once again put Turkey’s disregard for international law and contempt for Greece’s sovereignty in the spotlight. Elizabeth Samson, an international lawyer and Writing Fellow at the Middle East Forum whose work has appeared in major outlets like the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, joins Thanos Davelis as we dig into why it’s important to call out Turkey’s spurious claims over the Aegean.

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

Europe and United States Must Deny Turkey’s Spurious Claims Over the Aegean

Gaza reconstruction: Cyprus has a plan

Senate Foreign Relations Committee extends lifting of Cyprus arms embargo from annual renewal period to 5 year period

Bipartisan US push to extend Cyprus defense access

Turkish Cypriots went to the polls in the occupied northern part of Cyprus this weekend, electing a reportedly moderate candidate in Tufan Erhurman. His landslide victory, unseating hard-line incumbent Ersin Tatar, has led to cautious optimism that talks on the reunification of Cyprus could resume. Nektaria Stamouli, the deputy editor in chief of Kathimerini's English Edition and Politico's Eastern Mediterranean correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis as we break down the key takeaways from this election.

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

Turkish Cypriots elect moderate leader in crucial policy switch

Nicosia weighs Turkish-Cypriot leader change

Turkey pressing for Western fighter jets to claw back regional edge

Dozens arrested in OPEKEPE subsidy fraud bust across Greece

An issue that’s been top of mind in Greece for some time now is the demographic crisis. This isn’t unique to Greece, however, as it’s a problem most of Europe is also looking for answers to. Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, a Senior Fellow at Bruegel and a non-resident Senior Fellow with the Peterson Institute for International Economics, joins Thanos Davelis as we look at how an aging population is challenging Europe, and why migration remains an important part of the equation. 

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

The macroeconomic impact of ageing, EU immigration policy and pension expenditures

Mitsotakis calls for united European defense, energy strategy at MED9 summit

Erdogan heads to Gulf as Turkey looks to ease energy dependence on Russia

A few big headlines have come out of Brussels recently, including the presentation of the EU’s new "Pact for the Mediterranean", its executive body approving a 5-year defense road map that features plans for a “drone wall”, and  the debate about Turkey’s participation in the SAFE program. Alexandra Voudouri, Kathimerini’s Brussels correspondent, joins Thanos Davelis as we look into these developments and what they mean for Greece and Cyprus.

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

EU presents new pact to reshape relations with Mediterranean countries

EU scramble for anti-Russia ‘drone wall’ hits political, technical hurdles

European Commission Unveils 'Drone Wall' Plans As Part Of 5-Year Defense Road Map

Wadephul: Turkey ‘must solve its problems in the region’

Newfound optimism for resumption of Cyprus talks

FM Gerapetritis hopeful for an agreement on Mt Sinai monastery

While celebrating the Gaza ceasefire agreement in Egypt, President Trump made a point to single out Turkey’s President Erdogan, thanking him for his role in bringing about this deal. Erdogan is now eager to leverage this praise in order to become a key player in shaping Gaza's future. Can he achieve this? 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 answer this question, breaking down Turkey’s role in this ceasefire, Erdogan’s ambitions in Gaza, and what the Trump administration should be looking out for when dealing with Turkey here.

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

Erdogan's Turkey Wants to Be a Key Player in Post-war Gaza. It's a Fantasy

Trump signals new trust in Erdogan, raising concerns over Turkey’s ambitions in Gaza and beyond

Greece revives Eastern Med forum plan

Controversial labor bill passed by Parliament with government majority