1/ Greece is an aging country with a population of ~11 million and a GDP of ~242 billion. SV: 7 million, 535B.
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2/ If you set aside sentiment, there's no good reason for Greece to exist. Let Louvre take antiquities. Let Disney manage historic sites...
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easy there guy. still another 148 countries with lower per-capita GDP. By that logic, SV gonna end up in charge of 98% of the world
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. Yes, but other 148 aren't at the center of a major crisis. I am being mostly facetious, but to point out weird priorities.
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in any case, for better or for worse, Greece is the sacrificial lamb to keep Spain and Italy in line, show them not to dare ask for $
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It really needs to downsize into a much simpler city-state structure somehow to reflect its actual future needs/capabilities
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& for a variety of reasons (good &bad), carried the defense burden all by itself, several multiples of GDP % > than richer EU countries
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Culturally is there strong affinity to Russia anyway, via eastern orthodox church? Perhaps that's inevitable orbit.
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yes and no. Russia actually competes with Greece and its remaining influence at the Patriarchy for leadership of Orthodox faith
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so even that relationship is complex. more like cousins than brothers, who share some interests, not others
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but obviously cheaper/easier/more valuable for EU to keep it its orbit than it is to give it to Russia
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I mean, one simultaneously is going to fight for Crimea (clearly in Russia's orbit) and then give up Piraeus?

