THE HAGUE - Discussions between the Netherlands and the Maduro government about reopening the border between Venezuela and the ABC islands are being made more difficult because the governments of Curaçao and Aruba are not on the same page. This is apparent from the introduction file of the new Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Wopke Hoekstra.

The border between Venezuela and the ABC islands has been unilaterally closed by Caracas from February 2019. The introductory file shows that technical discussions have been taking place for some time at the request of the Maduro government, which should lead to a gradual and phased reopening. “Challenges are mainly caused by the differing wishes of Aruba and Curaçao and delays incurred with elections and new governments taking office in Oranjestad and Willemstad.”