Today, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, General Philippe Lavigne, participated in an initial meeting to discuss the future site of the Joint Analysis Training and Education Centre (JATEC) in Poland. In a speech marking the occasion, he emphasized NATO’s unwavering support for Ukraine and the crucial role the JATEC will play in strengthening the Ukrainian armed forces and fostering long-term interoperability with NATO.
“It is a step we are taking today for a better and lasting peaceful future together.” General Lavigne stated.
Leaders from NATO Headquarter, Allied Command Transformation, the Polish Chief of Defence Office, and the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence took a crucial step for this civilian and military NATO-Ukraine centre in order to deliver rapid results that will benefit both Ukraine and NATO.
As the first joint NATO-Ukraine organization, the JATEC will be a game-changer for strengthening our collective security and marks a significant milestone in the NATO-Ukraine relationship. The Washington Summit Declaration, adopted in July 2024 at the 75th Anniversary NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., reaffirmed NATO’s commitment to Ukraine. The establishment of the Joint Analysis Training and Education Centre was a key element of this commitment.
The JATEC will focus on developing the Ukrainian armed forces’ ability to defend, deter, and operate seamlessly with NATO forces. It will also analyse lessons learned from the ongoing war in Ukraine to inform NATO’s future strategies.
NATO and Ukrainian representatives have been working tirelessly to establish the JATEC, with the goal of achieving initial operational capability expeditiously. This unique centre will be a joint venture, reflecting the close partnership between NATO and Ukraine.
General Lavigne expressed his gratitude to Poland for hosting JATEC and for its significant contributions to the project. He also highlighted the importance of a rapid and pragmatic approach to ensure that JATEC is fully operational as soon as possible. This new Joint Analysis Training and Education Centre will enable a stronger NATO, a more resilient Ukraine, and a more robust NATO-Ukraine relationship by bolstering NATO’s capabilities, strengthening Ukraine’s defence, and deepening the NATO-Ukraine partnership.