ORANJESTAD – Dutch Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans has begun a working visit to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, starting on Monday in Aruba. According to the Ministry of Defence, the trip is a regularly scheduled visit to Aruba, Sint Maarten, Curaçao and Bonaire, and is formally separate from the current tensions in the region.
In remarks to Aruban media, Brekelmans said the Netherlands is prepared to support Aruba should the situation between Venezuela and the United States escalate. During his stay, the minister is visiting deployed Defence units across the islands and holding talks with local authorities.
In Aruba, Brekelmans met with Prime Minister Mike Eman at the Government Office. The discussions focused on security, preparedness and cooperation within the Kingdom, as well as the general situation in the wider Caribbean region.
The minister’s programme continues on Tuesday with a visit to the Marine Corps detachment on Sint Maarten. On Wednesday, he is scheduled to visit Marine Base Parera in Curaçao, one of the key Defence installations in the southern Caribbean.
On Thursday, January 8, Brekelmans will conclude his working visit with an inspection of the naval vessel Zr.Ms. Groningen, followed by a visit to the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee on Bonaire.
In addition to visiting military units, the minister will hold meetings with the governors, prime ministers and island governors of the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom. These talks will address regional developments, shared priorities and the ongoing cooperation between the Netherlands and the Caribbean countries to safeguard stability and security in the region.