Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, Soldiers, Sailors, Crewmen, National Guardsmen, Reservists and Civilian Personnel of the Armed Forces,

November 21st is a double celebration for Hellenism and Orthodoxy. Today we celebrate the Patroness of the Armed Forces, the Most Holy Theotokos, the Great General, under whose cover the Armed Forces have written pages of brilliant glory, defending with bravery and courage, the timeless Values ​​of Hellenism.

At the same time, our Nation honors the Armed Forces of the country, the eternal defenders of the freedom and independence of our Motherland, recognizing their continuous contribution and honoring the memory of its countless heroes throughout its long history.

In this journey of our Nation’s history, full of struggles, the freedom of the Motherland and the faith of Orthodoxy were concepts inextricably linked and deeply rooted in the consciousness of the Greek people.

Men and Women of the Armed Forces,

Thanks to all of you, our Homeland’s Armed Forces are strong, combat-worthy, reliable and efficient, capable of facing any threat, so that Greece continues to be the Pillar of Stability in the wider Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean region.

You are the deterrent force, especially at a time when fragile balances have been formed in the near-vital geopolitical space of Greece, having undertaken the highest mission of safeguarding the values ​​of democracy and freedom and ensuring the territorial integrity and national independence of our Motherland .

At a time when the security challenges are escalating due to the revisionist behavior of states in the immediate as well as in the wider geopolitical environment, we must be vigilant and maintain at a high level the combat effectiveness of the Armed Forces for the security of our country.

Aware of the geopolitical fluidity, hybrid threats and challenges in our wider region, the Government and the Ministry of National Defense set as a strategic goal the Shielding of our Homeland.

The armoring of our country is carried out through interventions in three directions, in human res, in weapon systems and in defense diplomacy.

A central component of our policy is the undertaking of actions that contribute to the improvement of everyday life, both for you and your families, with the aim of being able to carry out your mission undividedly, efficiently and in its entirety. At the same time, we seek to further develop your capabilities as you are the primary multiplier of national power, working methodically to upgrade both your military and academic training.

We constantly take care of the modernization of our weapon systems, by supplying new, modern ones and by simultaneously upgrading the existing ones. In particular, the acquisition of technologically advanced systems is a top priority for the Leadership of the Ministry of National Defense. We are already in the process of implementing the plan to meet the defense needs of the country with means for all three Branches of the Armed Forces, which give a strategic advantage against modern threats and challenges.

In the direction of upgrading relations and expanding Greece’s alliances, we work methodically by practicing active defense diplomacy, deepening our defense relationship both with traditional allies such as Cyprus, the United States of America and France, as well as with other states such as Israel, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Men and Women of the Armed Forces,

The Greek people are proud of you, honor you and thank you because by fulfilling your mission, you give strength to all of us to cope with the challenges of the times, making the Armed Forces the most impenetrable Pillar of National Power. At the same time, with the daily actions of social contribution in areas such as health, dealing with natural disasters, research and rescue, the construction of public utility projects, you enjoy the trust and love of the Greek people over time.

With the thoughts of all of us in your ever-demanding work, I congratulate you on the excellent execution of your mission and invite you to remain committed to your duty with the same zeal and professionalism, especially during this critical period for our Motherland.

May the Heroic General Theotokos be a victorious guide of the Armed Forces of our Homeland, and protect each of you and your families.

Happy birthday everyone!

Long live the Armed Forces!

Cheer for the nation!

THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENSE

NIKOLAOS PANAGIOTOPOULOS