THE HAGUE – A large majority of members of the Dutch House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) say the outgoing Dutch cabinet should explicitly distance itself from the recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela, calling it a violation of international law. Parties representing 99 of the 150 seats in the chamber made their position clear during a debate with caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs David van Weel this week.
The operation in question, in which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was removed from power and taken into custody by U.S. forces late last week, has sparked intense political discussion in the Netherlands due to its implications for international law and regional stability. Many lawmakers argue that the United States’ actions breach fundamental legal norms governing the use of force.
Calls for Public Condemnation of U.S. Action
ChristenUnie MP Don Ceder urged the government to publicly articulate its judgment that the U.S. military intervention was unlawful. He warned that if the Netherlands fails to speak out against breaches of international law by allied powers, it could encourage other great powers to act on the basis of “the right of the strongest,” undermining global legal norms.
Support for a clearer statement was not confined to opposition parties. Even within the governing VVD party, voices like MP Eric van der Burg said that the Netherlands, preferably in coordination with European partners, should make it clear that the U.S. action “cannot stand.”
Cabinet’s Position: Legal Questions, No Formal Condemnation
Despite the cross-party pressure, the caretaker cabinet has so far stopped short of outright condemning the U.S. intervention. In his letter to the Tweede Kamer, Minister Van Weel acknowledged that the operation raises “legitimate questions” about its compatibility with international law but did not offer a definitive legal judgment. He emphasized that the cabinet has so far aligned itself with a cautious statement by the European Union — which called for restraint and respect for international legal norms without directly condemning the U.S. operation.
The cabinet has pointed out that the Kingdom of the Netherlands is not involved in U.S. military operations and continues to monitor the situation closely, especially given Venezuela’s proximity to the Caribbean Netherlands. In his communication to MPs, Van Weel reiterated that there is “no acute threat” to Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.
Broader Political Divide
Debate in the Tweede Kamer reflects a broader split in European political reactions to the U.S. action. While some Dutch lawmakers and European parties condemn the intervention as illegal and warn of dangerous precedents, others express caution about publicly criticizing a key security partner, particularly as cooperation with the United States remains central to European and NATO security frameworks.
As the political discussions unfold, the Tweede Kamer has temporarily ended its parliamentary recess to hold further debates on Venezuela and related foreign policy issues. Many MPs say they expect the cabinet to adopt a clearer and more principled stance in the coming days.
In the meantime, the Netherlands maintains its official position of urging all parties in the Venezuela crisis to prevent escalation and adhere to international law, while closely watching developments in the Caribbean region.