THE HAGUE – The Dutch government says there is currently no acute security threat to Aruba, Curaçao, or Bonaire following recent developments in Venezuela, including the U.S. operation that led to the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro.
In a formal briefing to the Dutch Parliament, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the situation in Venezuela remains calm and that the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom are being closely monitored by Dutch defense and foreign affairs authorities. According to the ministry, police and military forces are visible in Caracas, but daily life there continues largely uninterrupted, with supermarkets and fuel stations open.
Dutch Defense has identified multiple contingency scenarios and has units on standby should support be required. However, no additional military escalation is currently deemed necessary. The greatest immediate impact for the islands was the temporary suspension of air traffic on January 3, which resumed the following day.
The Netherlands emphasized that it is not involved in the U.S. military operation and continues to call on all parties to prevent escalation and respect international law.