THE HAGUE – The House of Representatives’ Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a debate on Thursday on the “current developments in Venezuela and the security of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.”
The committee debate with Minister of Foreign Affairs David van Weel is scheduled to last three hours, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Dutch time. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested this time slot in order to allow for consultations earlier in the day with government leaders on the islands, so that the latest developments can be included in the discussion. The State Secretary for Kingdom Relations, Eddie van Marum, will not take part in the debate.
The debate is being held at the request of Member of Parliament Don Ceder of the ChristenUnie. His proposal received support from D66, VVD, GroenLinks–PvdA, CDA, JA21, BBB, Denk, the Party for the Animals, SP, 50Plus, and Volt. The remaining parliamentary factions did not respond.
The committee has asked the Dutch cabinet to submit a written briefing on the situation and the possible consequences for the ABC islands. The debate can be followed live via the website of the House of Representatives.
According to defense expert and former lieutenant general Mart de Kruif, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao do not need to fear a military attack from Venezuela, largely due to the presence of a substantial U.S. military force in the region.
The risk of economic consequences is considered more significant. Former chairman of the Board for Financial Supervision (Cft), Raymond Gradus, noted that Americans tend to avoid traveling abroad during times of crisis. “If flights continue to operate, the short-term impact for European travelers who have already booked is likely to be limited,” Gradus said. “However, when it comes to new bookings, travelers will certainly take the security situation into account. That will, of course, depend on how developments unfold.”
The debate is expected to shed further light on the potential implications of the situation in Venezuela for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.