THE HAGUE – Senior ministers within the Kingdom of the Netherlands held urgent consultations following the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his transfer to the United States, according to a letter sent to the Dutch Parliament.
Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans, State Secretary Eddie van Marum, and Foreign Minister David van Weel convened on January 3 and 4 to assess the geopolitical and regional implications. These discussions included the potential effects on the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom.
The issue will also be addressed at the upcoming meeting of the Rijksministerraad, underscoring the seriousness with which the Kingdom views developments in its largest neighboring country.
Defense Minister Brekelmans is currently on a previously scheduled working visit to the Caribbean, where he is briefing island leaders and defense units on preparedness and coordination.