Today, Thursday 21 May 2026, the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, attended, as a representative of the Prime Minister, the events in Corfu for the 162 nd  anniversary of the Union of the Ionian Islands with Greece, in the presence of the President of the Republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas.

Mr. Dendias, accompanied by the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitrios Choupis, and the Chief of Hellenic Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, received the President of the Republic and attended the doxology at the Church of Aghios Spyridon, which was officiated by His Eminence, the Metropolitan of Corfu, Paxi, and the Diapontian Islands, Mr. Nektarios.

He then attended the event for the anniversary of the Union of the Ionian Islands at the Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George, where the former Mayor of Corfu Chrysanthos Sarlis delivered the panegyric, followed by a memorial service at the Memorial of the Union of the Ionian Islands with Greece, a wreath laying, and a moment of silence in the memory of the leaders and fighters for the Union of the Ionian Islands with Greece.

Subsequently, Mr. Dendias attended a parade of military troops and civilian organisations, as well as a military helicopter flypast.

After the parade, he attended a demo flight by an F-16 aircraft of the ZEUS Team.

The events were also attended by the Deputy Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Stefanos Gikas, MPs Dimitrios Biagis and Alexandros–Christos Avlonitis, the Head of the Region of the Ionian Islands Giannis Trepeklis, the Mayor of Central Corfu and the Diapontian Islands Stefanos Penintarchou–Poulimenos, the Mayor of Northern Corfu Giorgos Mahimaris, the Mayor of Southern Corfu Ioannis Kavvadias, Father Marios Rigos, as representative of the Catholic Archbishop of Corfu, Zakynthos, and Cephalonia, general and senior officers, representatives of the Security Forces, regional and municipal councillors, representatives of local bodies, and crowds of people.

After the events, Mr. Dendias made the following statement:

“It is a great pleasure and a great honour to be here today in my hometown, Corfu, to celebrate together the 162 nd anniversary of the Union of the Ionian Islands with the Motherland.

It is the day we celebrate the decision of the people of the Ionian Islands, because there was a referendum, although this is not widely known, to leave Great Britain and join a small kingdom, the then poor kingdom of Greece, the Motherland.

Since then, the people of the Ionian Islands have participated in the national struggles and shed lots of blood. Let us remember Lorentzos Mavilis, who was killed while fighting on the mountains of Epirus, right across the sea from here. The brilliant officers of the Balkan Wars, the Dousmanis brothers. Dousmanis was captain of the Averof”. Kountouriotis is widely known; Dousmanis less so. Xenophon Stratigos too. Excellent officers, as well as the thousands of dead of the 10 th Infantry Regiment during the nation's struggles for the fulfilment of our nation.

Today we commemorate and honour the struggles for the Union and in general the struggles of the people of the Ionian Islands for our country. I think what memory always teaches us is the duty of us Greeks today. To try to keep our country free and maintain its sovereignty and sovereign rights, according to the Constitution, regardless of any aggressions. I would also like to wish a happy name day to all named Konstantinos and Eleni, because today is also a great religious holiday.

Hronia polla! Hronia polla to the Ionian Islands, hronia polla to Greece.”