THE HAGUE - The treaty between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United States on the basis of which the Americans may use the airports of Curaçao and Aruba to conduct drug-control operations from the air has been extended again for another 5 years.
The treaty dates from 2000 and has been renewed every 5 years since then. The current term ends on November 2. The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigrid Kaag informed the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament of the extension by letter. In the early years there was still some resistance in political circles on Curaçao against the presence of the so-called Forward Operating Location.
EMBASSY OF THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS
Washington, D.C., May 21, 2021
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Washington presents its compliments to the United States Department of State and has the honor to refer to the Agreement of Cooperation between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Government of the United States of America Concerning Access to and Use of Facilities in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba for Aerial Counter-Narcotics Activities, signed at Oranjestad on 2 March 2000 (the Agreement), which will expire on 2 November 2021.
Article XXVI of the Agreement states that after an initial period of ten years, the Agreement ‘shall be renewable for additional periods of five years’. As the Agreement entered into force on 2 November 2001, the initial period of ten years ended on 2 November 2011. The Agreement was subsequently renewed twice. The first renewal, done by an Exchange of Notes on 15 February 2011, entered into force on 2 November 2011 and expired on 2 November 2016. The second renewal was done by an Exchange of Notes on 2 November 2016, on which date it also entered into force, and will expire on 2 November 2021.
Given the Kingdom’s wish to continue the Agreement, the Embassy, on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, has the honor to propose to renew the Agreement for an additional period of five years, through 2 November 2026. To that end, it proposes that this Note together with a reply from the Government of the United States of America shall constitute an Agreement between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United States of America renewing the Agreement, which shall enter into force on 2 November 2021.
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Washington avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the United States Department of State the assurances of its highest consideration.
U.S. Department of State
2201 C street NW
Washington, DC 20520
Nr. II
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Washington, June 7, 2021
The Department of State refers the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Embassy’s diplomatic note dated May 21, 2021, concerning the proposal to renew for an additional period of five years the Agreement of Cooperation between the United States of America and the Kingdom of the Netherlands Concerning Access to and Use of Facilities in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba for Aerial Counter-Narcotics Activities, signed at Oranjestad on March 2, 2000, which will expire on November 2, 2021. The Embassy’s Note states as follows:
The Department confirms that the proposal contained in the Embassy’s note is acceptable to the Government of the United States of America, and that this reply, together with the Embassy’s note, shall constitute an Agreement between the United States of America and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which shall enter into force on November 2, 2021, renewing the Agreement for an additional period of five years, through November 2, 2026.
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Washington
Uitgegeven de vierentwintigste juni 2021.
De Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken,
S.A.M. KAAG