THE HAGUE – The Dutch House of Representatives’ Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a three-hour debate on Tuesday evening on the “increasing tensions in the Caribbean and their implications for the Kingdom of the Netherlands.” The debate comes amid growing concern in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom over recent U.S. military actions in the region.
Three members of the Dutch government will take part in the debate: Minister of Foreign Affairs David van Weel, Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans, and State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Eddie van Marum. Ahead of the debate, the cabinet responded in writing to questions from the GroenLinks–PvdA parliamentary group, stressing that there is currently no acute threat to the Kingdom.
According to the government, it is aware of the concerns raised in a November 13, 2025 broadcast of Nieuwsuur about rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela. The cabinet acknowledged that actions by the United States against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean region can understandably cause unease on Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire. At the same time, ministers emphasized that these actions are taking place outside the Kingdom’s territorial waters and that there is no indication that the islands could become involved in a potential conflict.
The government stated that it remains in close contact with the authorities of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire. While there is no immediate threat, all parties are preparing for various possible consequences should tensions escalate. The Netherlands itself is also making preparations to provide assistance and support if necessary.
On the question of whether the Kingdom supports criticism from international actors such as the United Nations and France, who have suggested that the U.S. strikes may violate international law, the cabinet underlined that the Kingdom is not involved in the American military operation. The United States, it said, is conducting a nationally directed operation in international waters and claims a right to self-defense, arguing that transnational drug cartels pose a serious threat due to their violent and paramilitary activities. Washington has also designated several drug cartels as terrorist organizations under U.S. law.
The Dutch cabinet noted that it has taken note of the U.S. legal justification but reiterated its own position that the right to self-defense under international law requires an armed attack or an imminent threat. At present, the government said, it does not have sufficient information to independently assess whether this threshold has been met. It called on all parties to prevent further escalation and to respect international law, a stance also reflected in the joint declaration of the recent CELAC–EU summit with Latin American and Caribbean countries.
The government also addressed questions about intelligence sharing, stating that the Kingdom is not participating in the U.S. operation and that the United States has assured that intelligence gathered jointly within the framework of JIATF-S, the Joint Interagency Task Force South, is not being used for the U.S. national operation. As a rule, Defense does not comment on specific forms of intelligence cooperation or data exchange.
Regarding Curaçao’s Hato International Airport and the Cooperative Security Location used by the United States, the cabinet explained that clear treaty arrangements are in place. These agreements allow the U.S. to conduct unarmed flights for surveillance, monitoring, and counter-narcotics purposes. The activities are limited to unarmed reconnaissance and do not support the U.S. national military operation. According to the government, no flights linked to that operation are being conducted from Hato Airport.
The Coast Guard for the Caribbean, the cabinet stressed, operates strictly within the Kingdom’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone. Its deployment is not coordinated with international partners in this context and does not contribute to U.S. actions in international waters or airspace.
In terms of cooperation with local governments, ministers said that developments are being closely monitored and that Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire are regularly informed. Coordination focuses on scenario planning, including logistical preparedness, as part of standard crisis management cooperation. This was also discussed during the recent crisis management week held in Curaçao from November 24 to 28, attended by all Caribbean parts of the Kingdom.
Communication with the public on the islands, the government explained, remains the responsibility of the local authorities. To avoid confusion or fragmented information within the Kingdom’s constitutional structure, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs keeps the governments of Aruba and Curaçao, as well as the Island Governor of Bonaire, closely informed of geopolitical developments so they can adequately inform their populations.
The debate will take place from 8:30 p.m. Dutch time and can be followed live via the House of Representatives’ website.