Dutch MPs weighs Caribbean security as U.S.–Venezuela regional tension rises

THE HAGUE--Growing tension between Venezuela and the United States has raised concerns in The Hague about possible spillover effects for Curaçao and Aruba. During the Caribbean part of the Kingdom debate on September 30 in the Dutch House of Representatives, several Members of Parliament urged closer attention to the region’s security and clear communication with the islands.

The discussion focused on the risk that expanded U.S. operations near Venezuelan territory could unsettle the southern Caribbean, where Curaçao and Aruba, autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, sit close to the Venezuelan coast. Lawmakers asked the government to match Europe focused security priorities with concrete measures for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom.

PVV position

Peter van Haasen, Party for Freedom, said the government cannot ignore risk on its own doorstep. “We are pouring billions into the terrible war in Ukraine,” Van Haasen said. “Meanwhile, right on the edge of our own Kingdom, tensions between America and our neighbor Venezuela are escalating. The Netherlands cannot turn a blind eye to the risks this poses to the safety and stability of our own islands.” He called for higher readiness in the Caribbean, and urged stronger protection for Curaçao and Aruba if the situation worsens.

D66 position

Mpanzu Bamenga, Democrats 66, said people on the islands are worried about being caught in a confrontation not of their making. “Tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela continue to rise, and the islands are right in between,” Bamenga stated. “There is a real fear among the population that they could be drawn into the conflict. The people are deeply concerned, and rightly so. What guarantees can we provide that Curaçao and Aruba will not be unnecessarily pulled into a geopolitical clash?” He underscored the Kingdom’s shared duty to safeguard citizens in the Caribbean territories.

NSC position

Faith Bruyning, New Social Contract, argued that Caribbean policy must account for geopolitics in a systematic way. “The Caribbean countries are literally on the front line of instability in the region,” Bruyning said. “Their safety, their sense of security, and their trust in the Kingdom are at stake. How will the State Secretary ensure that his policies take into account the geopolitical reality of Venezuela and its impact on the stability of the entire Kingdom?”

Government response

State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Eddie van Marum, BBB, said there is no immediate threat to Aruba, Curaçao, or Bonaire, and clarified that current U.S. activity is a national operation by the United States, not a Kingdom operation. He said the Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs are in continuous contact with the island governments, and that planning covers multiple scenarios to protect residents and visitors. “We are closely monitoring developments,” Van Marum said. “The security of the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom remains a top priority, and we are working hand in hand with our partners on the islands to ensure preparedness.”

Outlook

Parliamentarians from several parties asked for proactive steps, regular updates, and visible contingency planning. With the U.S. increasing its naval presence near Venezuelan waters, and Caracas using sharper rhetoric, Curaçao and Aruba, home to strategic facilities and international agreements, could face extra pressure if the regional picture shifts. The Hague will need to balance careful diplomacy with readiness in a part of the Kingdom that sits roughly 70 kilometers from Venezuela, a proximity that keeps the southern Caribbean within the frame of wider geopolitical tension.

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