THE HAGUE – The outgoing Dutch cabinet will not condemn the United States for its lethal attacks on alleged Venezuelan drug-running boats, despite mounting concern on Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire. During a tense parliamentary debate Tuesday evening, Minister of Foreign Affairs David van Weel said he is “not prepared to go that far,” even though more than eighty people have been killed since September as part of the U.S. campaign.
Van Weel stated that Washington justifies the attacks as matters of national security, but he considers this argument insufficient and unlikely to hold up under international legal scrutiny. He reiterated the Dutch position — shared with the European Union — calling for de-escalation and urging the United States to respect international law.
Political parties including D66, GroenLinks–PvdA and DENK criticized the cabinet’s stance, arguing that the Netherlands must condemn the American actions. D66’s Mpanzu Bamenga accused the U.S. of “disregarding international law” and warned that the lack of clarity around Washington’s objectives is deeply troubling.
No Acute Threat to ABC Islands, Cabinet Says
Despite the growing geopolitical tension, Van Weel told MPs that there is currently no acute danger for Aruba, Curaçao or Bonaire. He emphasized that the Maduro government “is not seeking further escalation,” pointing to ongoing communication between Caracas and Washington and the continued operation of a U.S. oil company in Venezuela.
Both Van Weel and Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans said the government is in “very intensive” contact with the island authorities. The ministers argued that while crisis scenario planning is underway — including possibilities for disruption of supply chains and regional instability — there are no signs of a refugee flow at this time.
Brekelmans stressed that the Netherlands is prepared to provide assistance “if the situation deteriorates,” but said the government must balance transparency with avoiding unnecessary alarm on the islands.
Cabinet Admits Communication Was Insufficient
Members of Parliament accused the government of remaining too silent for months about the escalating situation in the Caribbean, both toward the islands and toward the Dutch Parliament. Van Weel acknowledged the criticism, saying: “We could have communicated more proactively.”
The Netherlands has long cooperated with the United States in combating drug trafficking in the Caribbean, sharing intelligence and allowing U.S. forces access to facilities on Curaçao. However, Brekelmans made clear that the Netherlands is not assisting or participating in the current American military campaign targeting Venezuelan boats.
As geopolitical tensions rise, MPs warned that Curaçao and its neighboring islands are effectively “at the front door” of a potential conflict — and require clearer information, stronger communication, and firm diplomatic positioning from The Hague.