What Is Greece's Play in the The World We're Living In?

Xenia Kounalaki

Saturday–Jeff

For those of you interested in how Greece–a country of 10 million souls that faces persistent aggressive claims to its land and resources by its neighbor of 88 million (Turkey)–is responding to what's captivating international headlines, this past week's article in Greece's paper of record, Kathimerini, by long time columnist Xenia Kounalaki, may help you find an answer for yourself. 

It's titled, "The Greek 'cheerleaders' of Trumpism."

The Greek government has many opinions on the issue of Venezuela. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis believes that the US operation to arrest Nicolas Maduro was carried out because President Donald Trump is intolerant of authoritarian regimes and wants to restore democratic order.

Along the same lines, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis commented, “Let’s let the people of Venezuela enjoy their first moments of freedom after so many years of a leftist junta and wish them a great, bright democratic future!” He even compared the situation in Venezuela to the 1967-1974 dictatorship in Greece.

Following closely, Immigration Minister Thanos Plevris believes that the American president’s goal is not “to seize territory or change a legally elected government,” but “to arrest a criminal because of the drug trafficking he is carrying out in America.”

“A communist dictator, who had transformed his country’s economy into a drug trafficking center, is no longer in power,” is the assessment of New Democracy lawmaker Makis Voridis, who combines the two aforementioned positions: that the US is fighting a two-pronged battle, against drugs and authoritarianism. The refrain, however, is common: “There is no question of international law” or, as the prime minister put it, “this is not the time.”

And yet it is probably precisely the time to raise the issue of international legitimacy, because after Venezuela, Greenland is next. The major European countries rushed to stand by its side, but they did not ask Greece, because, on the one hand, it is a small country, and on the other, it does not seem to be troubled by America’s aggressive foreign policy. No European country has so far demonstrated particular bravery or willingness to question Trump. But there is great distance between their stance and half the Greek cabinet being more Catholic than the pope.

 “It’s one thing to be restrained and play the game we should – and you see that all Europeans are in a difficult position – and another to applaud,” admitted New Democrat MP Dimitris Kairidis. Indeed, because “karma is a bitch.” Trump, as we all know, has good relations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. If Turkey offers Trump interesting quid pro quos, he could sacrifice his “cheerleaders” in Athens overnight. And what will they invoke then? International legitimacy?

 –Jeff

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