KRALENDIJK – Island Governor John Soliano has reassured residents that Bonaire is actively strengthening its community resilience as regional tensions continue to cause uncertainty. In a detailed Facebook message, Soliano explained that the island is working on a series of preparedness scenarios and response plans to ensure that essential services and logistics can continue even in the event of a major disruption.
Soliano acknowledged that the presence of U.S. Navy vessels in the Caribbean Sea has raised questions and fueled speculation among some residents. “These tensions understandably create a sense of unrest,” he noted. To address this, Bonaire is taking steps to increase the self-reliance of the population during potential emergencies.
The governor emphasized that this planning is not new. Last month, he informed the public that Bonaire remains in ongoing, direct contact with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence. These consultations take place weekly and include updates on geopolitical developments and potential risks.
According to information shared by the Ministry of Defence, there is currently no direct threat to the ABC islands — Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. Defence officials also clarified that the U.S. military operation Southern Spear is a nationally directed American operation, meaning that the Kingdom of the Netherlands, including Dutch Defence, is not involved.
Nonetheless, Dutch Defence continues to closely monitor the situation in the region.
Soliano stressed that the aim of the government’s planning is to ensure that Bonaire can respond effectively to any crisis and that residents feel supported, prepared, and protected.