WILLEMSTAD – Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas has issued a formal clarification in response to widespread media reports and public speculation surrounding the dramatic departure of Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado. The government stresses that Curaçao played no role in any sensitive or covert operation related to her exit from Venezuela.
According to Pisas, the island has been inundated with questions about whether Curaçao or its institutions assisted or facilitated Machado’s escape. Given the political tensions in the region and international attention on the case, the prime minister said it is essential to reaffirm Curaçao’s official position.
Curaçao maintains strict neutrality in regional tensions
Pisas emphasized that Curaçao follows a policy of strict neutrality, in line with the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ framework for foreign affairs and international treaty obligations.
“We do not interfere in the internal or external affairs of other countries,” the statement reads, “and we do not participate in actions that could compromise our neutral status.”
As a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Curaçao does not hold authority over defense or foreign affairs. Sensitive humanitarian, security, or military operations—when they occur—are handled through kingdom-level diplomatic and military channels, in which the Curaçaoan government is not routinely involved.
“This means we are not always informed in advance of every operation,” Pisas clarified, calling this fully consistent with the division of responsibilities within the Kingdom.
Government: No involvement in Machado’s extraction
The statement underscores that Curaçao was not involved in the planning or execution of Machado’s journey, which reportedly included covert movements and assistance from foreign entities.
Now that media reports suggest part of the transit may have occurred “via a foreign facility on Curaçao,” the government has formally requested information and clarification from partners both inside and outside the Kingdom.
Pisas stressed, however, that no competent authority has confirmed that any part of Machado’s operation actually took place on Curaçaoan soil or through Curaçaoan infrastructure.
Government demands transparency from international partners
While reaffirming its neutral stance, the Curaçaoan government expects full communication when foreign actors make use of the island’s airspace or ports.
“Curaçao values and will always defend its neutrality,” the statement concludes. “When international partners operate in our territory, the corresponding information must be shared with us.”
The government reiterated that Curaçao remains neutral ground amid escalating U.S.–Venezuela tensions and continues to respect the constitutional structure of the Kingdom, particularly regarding defense and foreign affairs.
Pisas has indicated he will continue seeking answers from Dutch and international authorities to determine precisely what, if anything, occurred on Curaçao relating to Machado’s dramatic escape.