NATO Supreme Allied Commander Visits Ukraine for First Time Since Full-Scale Invasion; Discusses Red Team Role in Alliance Exercises

French Admiral Pierre Vandier, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, visited Ukraine on March 22 — the first visit by a NATO military commander of this level since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. The delegation discussed Ukrainian military participation in future NATO exercises as the 'red team' conditional adversary, leveraging Ukraine's unmatched battlefield experience. Last year's trial showed Ukrainian units demonstrated 'significant advantage' in training scenarios using the latest methods of warfare. The visit also covered the future of JATEC, the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre. The dynamic represents a notable shift: Ukraine is positioning itself not just as a recipient of Western military aid but as an exporter of combat expertise to the alliance.