The recent de Volkskrant article, titled “The Netherlands Can No Longer Deny Its Role in the Venezuelan Crisis”, has reignited a necessary public debate. It exposes the Dutch state’s long-standing economic, military, and geopolitical entanglements in Venezuela, particularly through its Caribbean territories—Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.
But one pressing question remains unanswered:
Were the people and local governments of these islands ever fully informed or consulted?
Dutch–U.S. Cooperation: A Silent Arrangement?
According to the article, strategic U.S. military operations targeting Venezuela—such as airstrikes on military bases and surveillance missions—were launched from Dutch Caribbean soil. This implies coordination not only between The Hague and Washington, but also a worrying silence or lack of transparency toward the autonomous governments of Curaçao and Aruba, and certainly toward their people.
There is no public record that shows a detailed briefing or referendum was held in Curaçao or Aruba regarding these actions. Nor is there evidence that the parliaments of these islands were fully informed about the military or intelligence use of their territory.
This raises serious constitutional and ethical questions about sovereignty, democratic oversight, and the protection of the local population—especially in the context of escalating tensions in the region.
Economic Sanctions: A Western Policy, Caribbean Consequences
While the Netherlands participated in Western efforts to sanction Venezuela—alongside the United States and European Union—it did so without clearly preparing its Caribbean territories for the social and economic impact.
From 2015 onward, international sanctions—paired with internal instability in Venezuela—triggered a humanitarian collapse. This drove tens of thousands of Venezuelans to flee, with many arriving by sea to Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire.
Yet, unlike European host nations with more resources, these islands were never structurally supported by The Hague or Brussels to manage the burden of this forced migration.
• Healthcare systems were stretched.
• Education and housing systems were overwhelmed.
• Local labor markets were destabilized.
• Detention of undocumented Venezuelans became an international concern, even criticized by human rights observers.
Despite the clear humanitarian fallout of a geopolitical strategy decided in capitals far away, the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom were left to handle the consequences largely on their own.
The Illusion of Equal Partnership
This situation is part of a larger pattern in which Kingdom-level decisions are made without Kingdom-wide consultation, especially when it comes to defense, foreign affairs, and regional security. In theory, the Caribbean countries are autonomous in internal affairs. But when it comes to matters of war, intelligence cooperation, or foreign policy, they are often bypassed.
In the context of the Venezuelan crisis, it appears the islands were treated as launchpads, not partners.
This contradicts the spirit of mutual respect and responsibility that the Charter of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is supposed to uphold.
A Call for Clarity and Reflection
This is not about blaming one nation or defending another. This is about accountability. The article from de Volkskrant rightly reminds readers of Dutch historical and present-day involvement in Venezuela. But for those of us in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, it must also spark deeper questions:
• Were our island governments informed about the military use of our territories?
• Were our populations warned of potential risks tied to those operations?
• Why were no regional consultations held when sanctions were introduced?
• What emergency support systems were provided to the islands receiving Venezuelan refugees?
• Will The Hague ever acknowledge that its policy helped fuel the migration crisis the islands were left to manage?
Conclusion
The time has come for an honest and inclusive debate—not just in Dutch newspapers or government buildings, but within the Kingdom as a whole. The consequences of geopolitics are not abstract. They wash up on our shores, walk through our neighborhoods, and stretch our social systems.
If we are to move forward as one Kingdom, then transparency, inclusion, and respect for all territories must become the new standard.
No part of the Kingdom should be kept in the dark while decisions with life-altering consequences are made in the name of “shared interests.”