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Articles by Katerina Sokou
Drama in the US raises stakes for Greece, too
Calling the forthcoming United States election as consequential may be an understatement. Some European leaders prefer the term existential, noting that what’s at stake is no less than the future of the West. At the very least, the 2024 presidential election is a major geopolitical risk due to its projected impact not just on the future direction of the US, but on the international order too.
Online discussion: “India-Europe corridor - a necessity for the Mediterranean - Can it survive the Middle East conflict?”
At the most recent G20 summit a new economic and infrastructure interconnectivity was announced to connect India to Europe through the Arabian Gulf, Israel, and Greece. This corridor is supported by the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy, and the EU. Will the project retain its momentum, given the re-emerging conflict in the Middle East? Could the whole project to be derailed by the long-term ramifications of the conflict as trust might erode among the indispensable partners?
Greece-U.S. Relations: Capitalizing on a generational high
Ms. Katerina Sokou, Non-resident Research Fellow, Theodore Couloumbis Research Fellowship on Greek-U.S. Relations; Washington, DC correspondent, Kathimerini; Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council, will present the policy paper she has written as part of the research fellowship created by ELIAMEP to honour the memory of Professor Theodore Couloumbis.
Stakes and rewards
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogn is trying to get as many rewards as possible for agreeing to back Sweden’s NATO accession. However, his demand that the European Union open membership talks for his country was a step too far. Everyone from US President Joe Biden to European officials rushed to emphasize the obvious fact, namely that there is no link between the two matters.
The S-400s indicate the limits of change in Turkey
The revelation that Turkey rejected an American proposal to send its Russia-made S-400 missile defense systems to Ukraine came directly from the Turkish foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu. The US proposal had the potential to greatly enhance Ukraine’s defense capabilities while simultaneously resolving the primary issue causing strain in their relationship with Turkey.
Closed working discussion on Greek-American relations
Α closed working discussion on Greek-American realations took place at ELIAMEP on Wednesday 19 April with Ms. Katerina Sokou, Research Fellow of ELIAMEP’s Theodoros Kouloubis Chair.
Unlocking innovation
How do you foment competitiveness and how is local innovation linked to the global ranking of a country? This was the focus of a recent conference held in Athens which brought together representatives from the areas of academia, business, politics, economics and science to discuss initiatives and strategies to promote innovation.
“Greece-US Relations, halfway through Biden’s Presidency” - Hybrid event
At the event “Greece-US Relations, halfway through Biden’s Presidency”, the Greek version of the Transatlantic Periscope was officially launched. The event was held in hybrid form, on Thursday, 3 November 2022, at 19:00-20:30 (Athens)/18:00- 19:30 (Brussels) / 12:00-13:30 (New York) at the auditorium of CYA/DIKEMES, at 5, Plateia Stadiou, 116 35 Athens.
Squaring the energy transition circle in Southeast Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean
Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia Southern & Southeastern Europe Squaring the energy transition circle in Southeast Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean How to leverage US-Greece cooperation to ensure energy security, while accelerating green recovery Achieving a smooth energy tradition, where energy security is assured and climate change is addressed, was always going to be a difficult puzzle.
Greece’s strong cards and the challenges
The objective behind US President Joe Biden inviting the Greek prime minister to the White House was not to discuss Russia or Turkey but to celebrate bilateral relations and the bicentennial of the Greek Revolution. The celebration may have been disrupted by international developments, but the symbolism has since gained fresh intensity.
The Mediterranean: A sea of threats
A man carries provisions up a steep alleyway in the compact, white hilltop village of Pyrgos on the island of Santorini. Greece’s tourism industry could suffer as the months with ideal temperatures will shift outside the current peak tourism season, experts warn.
The rising national security threats from climate change in the Mediterranean region
Climate Change & Climate Action Economy & Business Eurozone Fiscal and Structural Reform Greece Southern & Southeastern Europe The rising national security threats from climate change in the Mediterranean region Katerina Sokou Climate change hazards, from rising sea levels to forest fires, are set to asymmetrically impact the Mediterranean’s coastal ecosystems.
When idealism meets realism
Greek soldiers load a plane with humanitarian aid at Athens International Airport on February 27. [[AP]] There’s hardly any room for sentimentalism in international relations.
Greek Fire: The Lasting Impact of the Greek Revolution on American Culture and Politics
Body Think Piece #5 is based on discussions which took place during the Delphi Economic Forum VI. On the occasion of Greece’s bicentennial in 2021, Ms. Katerina Sokou reports the interaction between the Greek Revolution and the American War for Independence and how the “Greek Fire” has shaped America to this day. To read Think Piece #5 click here
Is liberalism ending its losing streak in Central Europe?
Key takeaways: The Czech opposition has proven its mettle in uniting against populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. This triumph could inspire democratic forces fighting to edge out illiberal leaders in Hungary and Poland. But Babiš isn’t done quite yet—while Czechia still needs to build a robust post-communist political culture.
How Turkey ended up in the dock in the US
A frame grab from video provided by Voice of America shows members of Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s security detail reacting violently to a peaceful protest during the Turkish president’s trip to Washington in May 2017.
‘We’ll recognize Armenian Genocide,’ White House tells Kathimerini
WASHINGTON, DC – US President Joe Biden plans to make good on his pre-election promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide at the hands of the Turks during World War I, a White House spokesperson has told Kathimerini. Replying to a request for reaction to a letter initiater by Sen.
White House on the Armenian Genocide: We have to acknowledge history
WASHINGTON, DC – Τhe US administration under President Joe Biden believes it is important to acknowledge history in respect to the issue of the Armenian Genocide, a White House spokesperson has told Kathimerini. “As a presidential candidate, President Biden commemorated the 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children who lost their lives in the final years of the Ottoman Empire.
Aligning US-Greek interests in the Biden era
US President Joe Biden announces changes to the main US coronavirus disease aid program for small businesses during brief remarks in the South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington, US, February 22, 2021. [Jonathan Ernst/Reuters] For Europe, Joe Biden’s presidency brings high hopes for reinvigorating the transatlantic partnership. For the United States, succeeding in this task is a prerequisite for achieving an ambitious broader agenda.
Requiem for a cosmopolitan dream, Katerina Sakou | Kathimerini
People are seen gathered for noon prayers at Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, on Friday, July 26, two days after it reopened as a mosque. [EPA] Attila did not seem surprised when I told him I was Greek. We were at the entrance of the Hagia Sophia museum on a rainy, cold December morning, and for the next hour, he would guide me through the most popular tourist attraction in Istanbul.
Natalia Linos: Scientists have been under attack, Katerina Sakou | Kathimerini
‘It’s the workers who have the least power, most precarious jobs, and likely the least means to protect themselves and their families who are going to be put at risk,’ Dr Natalia Linos says on Covid-19. The executive director of Harvard’s François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, Natalia Linos, is a social epidemiologist who has been involved in policy throughout her career, but who probably wouldn’t be running for Congress if it wasn’t for Covid-19.
Burns: ’Disappointing’ that Trump did not discuss Hagia Sophia with Erdogan, Katerina Sakou | Kathimerini
US President Donald Trump failed to raise the issue of Hagia Sophia’s reconversion into a mosque in his call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said Ambassador Nicholas Burns, who is a foreign policy advisor for former Vice President Joe Biden's 2020 campaign. “It is very disappointing that President Trump apparently did not even raise the issue with President Erdogan in their recent phone call. That is a major missed opportunity,” he told Kathimerini.
Turkey becoming ‘more of a challenge to US,’ Biden Center director tells Kathimerini, Katerina Sakou | Kathimerini
The senior director of the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement Michael Carpenter tells Kathimerini in an interview that US-Greece ties are one of the “very few bright spots” in transatlantic relations at the moment.
US initiative on East Med tension to focus on EEZs, Katerina Sakou | Kathimerini
An anticipated US diplomatic initiative aimed at easing mounting tension between NATO allies Greece and Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean is expected to focus on the issue of exclusive economic zones, amid concerns regarding the maritime borders agreement signed between Ankara and the Tripoli-based Libyan government.
East Med Act a milestone in US foreign policy, Katerina Sakou | Kathimerini
The Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act is a “historic, truly transformational development,” which places Greece, Cyprus and Israel on the front line of American policy in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Greece and its East Med, West Balkan role, Katerina Sakou | Kathimerini
The inaugural Southeast Europe & East Med conference organized by Kathimerini and the Delphi Economic Forum in Washington earlier this week aimed to present new strategies and opportunities.
In the Aegean, Energy Sustainability = Increased Security
Tasos Aliferis, Tilos, Greece, photo via Wikipedia BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 1,325, October 28, 2019 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The challenging geography of Greece makes it hard for the country to take full advantage of its natural resources and expand its energy grid. Though it has doubled its share of renewables, it needs to redouble those efforts to reach the EU’s ambitious goal of covering a third of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2030.
Katerina Sokou
Regions European Union Greece Southern & Southeastern Europe The Balkans Report launch: Squaring the energy transition circle in southeast Europe and the eastern Mediterranean Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia Greece Southern & Southeastern Europe Have Greek politics finally settled down? By Katerina Sokou Experts react: What did Blinken accomplish in Turkey and Greece?
DEBATE: What Is the Future of the Israel-Greece-Cyprus Partnership?
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with Prime Ministers of Israel, Greece, and Cyprus, photo via US Embassy and Consulate in Greece BESA Center Online Debate No. 18, July 29, 2019 Q: In 2010, Israel decided to enrich its Eastern Mediterranean strategy by looking for new partners. In so doing, it turned to Greece and Cyprus. Slowly and steadily, the three countries expanded their cooperation and overcame previously held stereotypes about one another.
US wary of Turkish aggression, Katerina Sakou | Kathimerini
WASHINGTON - The US ponder their next diplomatic moves towards Turkey, as they share the concern of Athens about the aggression of its neighbor in Cyprus and the Aegean. During his visit to Washington, Defense Secretary Evangelos Apostolakis shared his concerns with US officials about the escalation of Turkish provocation following the expedition of a drillship in the Cypriot EEZ, and especially the likelihood of their continuation in the Kastelorizo area and the Aegean.
European Elections Are a Win, of Sorts, for Greece
May 20, 2019 This article is part of a series on the 2019 European Union parliamentary elections. In Greece, European parliamentary elections on May 26 are being viewed as a litmus test ahead of national elections later this year. Domestic politics have dominated the debate and the opposition has framed the election as a referendum against the government.
Lakkotrypis: Cyprus ‘ready for all scenarios’, Katerina Sakou | Kathimerini
‘We hope that the energy developments in the region, and in Cyprus in particular, will be an incentive for Turkey to return to the negotiating table and help solve the Cyprus problem,’ Yiorgos Lakkotrypis told Kathimerini in an interview.
Richard Morningstar: Energy security means greater political security, Katerina Sakou | Kathimerini
‘If we wait on reunification to deal with the resources – and both will take a long time, the project and the politics – I think it might make it more difficult to resolve,’ Ambassador Richard Morningstar says on Cyprus. Ambassador Richard Morningstar, the founding director and chairman of the Global Energy Center at the Atlantic Council, notes that Greece can play a role in promoting as well as benefit from a transparent and competitive energy market in Europe.
Congressman Bilirakis urges Tsipras to back democracy in Venezuela., Katerina Sakou | Kathimerini
Greek-American Republican congressman Gus Bilirakis has sent a letter to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras urging him to support European efforts to restore democracy in Venezuela. Bilirakis, a Florida representative since 2007, urges Tsipras "to put Greece at the forefront of Europe’s efforts to help restore democracy in Venezuela", noting that "any perception that Athens supports the Maduro regime undermines Greece’s reputation in both US and (Latin America)."
Greek-US strategic dialog to focus on defense, security, energy, Katerina Sakou | Kathimerini
Shortly before the much-anticipated first Strategic Dialogue between Greece and the United States start in Washington on Thursday, a senior official of the US State Department described the discussions as “a really important moment in US-Greek relations,” adding that “we have not seen such an opportunity to upgrade relations in a long time.” The talks between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Katrougalos will focus on regional defense, security and energy.
Greek-US strategic dialog to focus on defence, security, energy, Katerina Sakou | Kathimerini
Shortly before the much-anticipated first Strategic Dialogue between Greece and the United States start in Washington on Thursday, a senior official of the US State Department described the discussions as “a really important moment in US-Greek relations,” adding that “we have not seen such an opportunity to upgrade relations in a long time.” The talks between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Katrougalos will focus on regional defense, security and energy.
The Refugee Crisis is not over for Greece
Greece currently hosts some 60,000 asylum-seekers – 10,000 on just three islands: Lesbos, Chios and Kos. Most will have to spend the winter in Greece, as asylum to their desired, northern European destinations is slow to be granted. To be sure, the number of new arrivals has dropped significantly after the EU-Turkey agreement, with more migrants diverting to the precarious mid-Mediterranean route from Libya to Italy.
IMF board member proposes compromise deal for Greek bailout talks
WASHINGTON - Reaching a compromise that allows all sides to claim victory and success is the key in the current stand-off between Greece and its lenders, according to Brazilian economist Paulo Nogueira Batista, executive director of the International Monetary Fund. Batista, who represents 11 developing countries, including his native Brazil, presented a series of proposals regarding the Greek issue at an IMF executive board meeting last Monday.
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