# Japan Air Self-Defense Force

Windmill Guardian: The Growing NATO Footprint in the Indo-Pacific

The first trilateral 'Windmill Guardian' exercise involving the U.S., Japan, and the Netherlands marks a major step in integrating European NATO members into Indo-Pacific security. The drills focused on F-35 interoperability and data-link sharing, signaling a transition toward a multilateral, networked alliance structure in the region.