WILLEMSTAD — The Governor of Curaçao, Mauritsz de Kort, received a visit on Thursday from Vice Admiral Liebregs, a senior officer of the Royal Netherlands Navy, as part of ongoing discussions about the role of the Dutch military in the Caribbean and recent regional developments.
Vice Admiral Liebregs was accompanied by Commander Walter Hansen, the head of the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, which operates under the Kingdom’s Defence Ministry and plays a key role in maritime security across the Dutch Caribbean. The Coast Guard collaborates closely with law enforcement and other agencies to combat drug trafficking, illegal migration, and to provide search-and-rescue services in regional waters.
During the meeting, the delegation and the Governor exchanged views on several issues, including the critical role of the armed forces in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom and the geopolitical situation in the region, particularly in light of recent events in Venezuela and broader security concerns. The talks underscore the importance of continued coordination between military leadership and local authorities as tensions in the region evolve.
The presence of senior military leadership in Curaçao highlights ongoing efforts by the Netherlands and the Kingdom’s defense establishment to maintain readiness and cooperation amidst heightened regional complexity. Earlier reports from Dutch naval leadership have emphasized the strategic importance of the ABC islands and the need for robust maritime security capabilities in the region.
A photo released in conjunction with the visit shows Vice Admiral Liebregs and Commander Hansen alongside Governor de Kort at the Governor’s Palace in Willemstad.
The meeting follows a series of strategic engagements between Dutch defense officials and local Caribbean stakeholders aimed at strengthening crisis preparedness, information sharing and military cooperation in a region where security dynamics have significant implications for both local stability and the wider Kingdom of the Netherlands.