In July Turkey hosted the 17th International Defense Industry Fair, and over 100 countries sent representatives to see what’s behind all the hype around Ankara’s defense industry. Despite the attention it’s gotten over the last years, a lot of Ankara’s new military technology remains in development and untested, posing the question: Can Turkey deliver on its defense ambitions? 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 try to answer this question.

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

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

Can Turkey Deliver on Its Armament Ambitions?

Greece announces €1.6bn relief package to tackle population decline

Greece, OpenAI agree deal to boost innovation in schools, small businesses

With the US focused on Ukraine, the Middle East, and President Trump’s trade deals, it seems the Western Balkans are flying under the radar in Washington. In fact, there are growing concerns in the region about a quiet US withdrawal and what this could mean as countries like Russia, China and Turkey vie for influence. Professor James Ker-Lindsay, who has worked extensively on the EU, the Balkans and Southeast Europe, joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at these developments.

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

Risky jockeying for position in the Balkans

Serb separatist Dodik defies Bosnian state in government reshuffle

Greece toughens penalties for rejected asylum seekers, speeds up returns

PM to unveil tax breaks as popularity dips

The Economist just ran a story about the Shanghai Co-operation Organization summit that took place, calling it Xi Jinping’s anti-American party. This party also included world leaders like Turkish President Erdogan. 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 into Erdogan’s cozying up to China and what it means for the US.

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

Xi Jinping’s anti-American party

Turkey’s Erdogan holds hands with Iran’s Pezeshkian, sparks online buzz

Putin, Modi and Erdoğan among leaders in China for talks with Xi

Mitsotakis and Erdogan likely to meet this month

Athens sends message to Nicosia over power cable project

This weekend Prime Minister Mitsotakis is heading to Thessaloniki, where he’s going to deliver a sort of state of the union address, outlining his agenda and key priorities for the year ahead. Today Thanos Davelis brings on Nick Malkoutzis, the co-founder of Macropolis.gr, as we break down what issues are top of the list, and what moves Mitsotakis is planning for the year ahead. 

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

PM finalises relief measures in ambitious but risky move to sway voters

Turkish court ousts main opposition's Istanbul head over congress irregularities

EU foreign policy chief: Turkey-Libya maritime deal violates rights of third countries

Constantine Cavafy, the Greek poet whose work not only charted a new path for Greek poetry, but also inspired countless readers around the world - including figures like David Hockney, Leonard Cohen, and Jackie Kennedy Onassis - is back in the spotlight thanks to the publication of his first biography in roughly 50 years. Professors Gregory Jusdanis and Peter Jeffreys, the authors of the book, join Thanos Davelis as we take a deeper dive into the life and work of Constantine Cavafy.

For those who are interested, the book is available for purchase in the US and the UK, and is expected in early October in Greece as well.

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

Constantine Cavafy: A New Biography

Alexandrian Sphinx: The Hidden Life of Constantine Cavafy

‘Constantine Cavafy’ Review: A Poet’s Odyssey Within

The mysterious life of Constantine Cavafy

Ankara bristles at Athens’ energy moves

Greece suspends 5% of schools as birth rate drops

Endy Zemenides, HALC’s Executive Director, is joined by Michael Rubin, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, to break down reports that Israel is closing in on a security deal with Syria as a U.S. envoy meets with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and to analyze what this means for the region, from Turkey to broader U.S. strategy in the Middle East.

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

• Syria's Sharaa confirms 'advanced' talks with Israel on security deal; US envoy meets Netanyahu
• Birth rate decline a threat to universities
• Greece issues very high wildfire risk alert for Aegean islands and Crete

HALC Executive Director and host Endy D. Zemenides is joined by Mariam Wahba, Research Analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to analyze the Egyptian government's efforts to control St. Catherine's monastery, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery.

You can read the articles we discuss in the podcast here:

• Egypt’s War Against the World’s Oldest Christian Monastery
• On migration, Greece takes a Trumpian turn - The Washington Post
• Energy minister dismisses report on possible Turkey-Libya maritime deal approval | eKathimerini.com

HALC Executive Director and host Endy D. Zemenides is joined by Tyler Stapleton, Director of Government Relations at FDD Action, to analyze the State Department's response to a Congressional letter calling on holding Turkey accountable and the F-35 program. 

You can read the articles we discuss in the podcast here:

• State Department: The US position regarding Turkey’s acquisition of F-35s remains unchanged | eKathimerini.com
• A Gaza-bound ship that left Cyprus with 1,200 tons of food aid nears Israeli port
• Giannis leads way for Greece in Eurobasket exhibition game

HALC Executive Director and host Endy D. Zemenides is joined by Patrick Theros, former U.S. Ambassador to Qatar, member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and former Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism, to analyze the freezing of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem's bank accounts. 

You can read the articles we discuss in the podcast here:

Jerusalem freezes Greek Orthodox Patriarchate's bank accounts over tax dispute | The Times of Israel

Serbia rocked by ongoing anti-government clashes – DW – 08/19/2025

President of Syria Al-Shara met Patriarch of Antioch in Damascus | Orthodox Times (en)

HALC Executive Director and host Endy D. Zemenides is joined by Ilan Berman, Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council, Board Member at Radio Free Europe, and author of Implosion: The End of Russia and What It Means for America to analyze the aftermath and impact of President Trump's meeting with with President Zelensky and European Leaders.

You can read the articles we discuss in the podcast here:

• Major Takeaways From Trump’s Meeting With Zelenskyy and European Leaders | Council on Foreign Relations
• UN publishes Greek response rejecting Libya hydrocarbon claims | eKathimerini.com
• Rhodes beach violations persist despite crackdown | eKathimerini.com
• Construction on the islands getting worse every year | eKathimerini.com