WILLEMSTAD – Growing geopolitical frictions between Venezuela and the United States are forcing the Kingdom of the Netherlands to confront difficult strategic choices, raising urgent questions about security preparedness, sovereignty, and the protection of Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire.
During a recent parliamentary briefing, Dutch security officials acknowledged the gravity of the situation, citing the unprecedented scale of U.S. military action against Venezuelan vessels, the closure or restriction of major maritime zones, and the potential for rapid escalation. While The Hague maintains that “there is no acute threat,” several parliamentarians warned that the conflict is now unfolding “on the doorstep of the Kingdom” and requires far more decisive action.
A central dilemma concerns the Netherlands’ longstanding cooperation with the United States in maritime drug interdiction—operations that now intersect with Washington’s increasingly aggressive approach toward Venezuelan maritime targets. Although the Netherlands facilitates U.S. counternarcotics missions through the use of Curaçao’s Forward Operating Location (FOL), ministers stressed that the Kingdom is not involved in the U.S.-led attacks on alleged smuggling vessels, which have already resulted in more than eighty deaths.
Members of Parliament expressed concern that continued intelligence-sharing with Washington could inadvertently entangle the Kingdom in actions that may violate international law. Legal experts inside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs admitted they still lack clarity on the legal basis the U.S. is using for its operations, despite repeated inquiries.
Beyond the legal and diplomatic uncertainty lies a more immediate worry: the safety of the ABC islands. The document outlines scenarios in which a sudden Venezuelan retaliation—however unlikely—could disrupt food imports, fuel logistics, or regional airspace management. Curaçao relies heavily on maritime supply chains, and even short-term interruptions could have direct effects on supermarket stocks, medicine availability, and tourism flows.
In response, the Netherlands has begun drafting contingency plans with the island governments. These include options for emergency stockpiling, alternative shipping routes, military support within 48 hours, and crisis-communication strategies aimed at preventing public panic.
Yet MPs from across the political spectrum argue that the islands remain underinformed. Several noted that the ABC populations “are living with fear and speculation,” and criticized the lack of proactive communication from the Dutch Cabinet.
As tensions continue to rise, the Kingdom appears to be walking a narrow diplomatic line—seeking to uphold international law, distance itself from the U.S. strikes, maintain regional stability, and address the concerns of three island communities now uncomfortably close to a growing conflict.