The Greek Current

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. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: Bill proposes 5-year extension of Cyprus arms embargo waiver [https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/foreign-policy/1275460/bill-proposes-5-year-extension-of-cyprus-arms-embargo-waiver/] Meng, Bilirakis, Titus, And Malliotakis Introduce Legislation To Support The US-Hellenic Relationship [https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-bilirakis-titus-and-malliotakis-introduce-legislation-support-us] Kimberly Guilfoyle receives nod as US ambassador to Greece [https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/foreign-policy/1275502/kimberly-guilfoyle-receives-nod-for-us-ambassador-to-greece/] Tripoli asserts claims against Athens [https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/foreign-policy/1275662/tripoli-asserts-claims-against-athens/] US lawmakers launch bipartisan effort to block Turkey’s return to F-35 program [https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/foreign-policy/1275651/us-lawmakers-launch-bipartisan-effort-to-block-turkeys-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 [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/15/world/europe/ukraine-weapons-europe-trump.html] Trump intensifies trade war with threat of 30% tariffs on EU, Mexico [https://www.reuters.com/business/trump-announces-30-tariffs-eu-2025-07-12/] Europe's freedom faces greatest threat since WW2, Macron says [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdez5e212dzo] Turkish court sentences Erdoğan’s top rival to almost 2 years in prison [https://www.politico.eu/article/turkey-istanbul-mayor-ekrem-erdogan-2-years-prison/] Tourism receipts fall despite visitor surge [https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1275512/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.  You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: Share of tenants is growing [https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/real-estate/1275213/share-of-tenants-is-growing/] House supply keeps declining [https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/real-estate/1275122/house-supply-keeps-declining/] Tripoli evasive on maritime boundaries [https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/foreign-policy/1275415/tripoli-evasive-on-maritime-boundaries/] Bill proposes 5-year extension of Cyprus arms embargo waiver [https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/foreign-policy/1275460/bill-proposes-5-year-extension-of-cyprus-arms-embargo-waiver/] Meng, Bilirakis, Titus, And Malliotakis Introduce Legislation To Support The US-Hellenic Relationship [https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-bilirakis-titus-and-malliotakis-introduce-legislation-support-us]

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. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: Italy and Greece sound the alarm over Libya. But allies aren’t rushing to help. [https://www.politico.eu/article/italy-greece-sound-alarm-over-libya-allies-arent-rushing-to-help/] Athens rethinks southern sea strategy [https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/foreign-policy/1275114/athens-rethinks-southern-sea-strategy/] EU trade ministers plan countermeasures to Trump’s ‘unacceptable’ 30% tariffs [https://apnews.com/article/europe-us-trump-tariffs-trade-be679cb7642c167baabdce2c50392d0f] Libya files UN complaint over Greek maritime zones [https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/foreign-policy/1275242/libya-files-protest-with-un-over-greek-eez/]

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 [https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/diaspora-politics/1275061/apogevmatini-marks-centenary-as-voice-of-istanbuls-greek-community/] «Απογευματινή»: η ελληνόφωνη εφημερίδα της Κωνσταντινούπολης που κοντεύει να κλείσει 100 χρόνια ζωής [https://www.lifo.gr/articles/apogeymatini-i-ellinofoni-efimerida-tis-konstantinoypolis-poy-konteyei-na-kleisei-100] Niko Efstathiou’s tweet on Apogevmatini’s 100 year anniversary [https://x.com/NikoEfst/status/1943626879174390175] Athens rethinks southern sea strategy [https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/foreign-policy/1275114/athens-rethinks-southern-sea-strategy/] Turkish president hails the start of disarmament by militant Kurdish separatists [https://apnews.com/article/erdogan-pkk-disarmament-a23b5269e7e8926c3a8d1dc22c4b9db8]