WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao government intends to extend its agreement with the United States on the Forward Operating Location (FOL) at Hato International Airport, where U.S. military aircraft have conducted counternarcotics missions for the past 25 years.
Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas confirmed the government’s position during Thursday’s question hour in Parliament, responding to inquiries from opposition member Suzy Camelia-Römer.
Critical but Supportive
“The recent developments — with the U.S. carrying out unilateral drug interdiction operations against Venezuela — do not prevent us from being critical,” Pisas said. “All parties must respect the treaties. The Netherlands has taken a neutral stance, but given our geographic proximity, we also have a voice. The FOL may not be used for purposes outside of the agreements. Together with the Netherlands and the U.S., we are closely monitoring the geopolitical situation.”
Pisas added that Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten have been in talks with the Dutch Ministry of Defense about the regional risks. These consultations led to the deployment of an additional Dutch naval vessel in the Caribbean.
“There are no tensions involving Curaçao directly, but we could be drawn in. We are trying to be well prepared, but we keep information ‘low profile’ to avoid unnecessary concern,” the prime minister explained.
Opposition Concerns
Camelia-Römer warned that U.S. actions could escalate into “war, sabotage, or cyberattacks,” stressing that the population should be kept informed and even advised to maintain emergency kits at home.
Agreement Details
The FOL agreement — officially titled “Agreement between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United States of America concerning access to and use of facilities in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba for aerial counternarcotics activities” — was signed in Oranjestad, Aruba, on March 2, 2000 and will expire on November 2, 2026.
A second treaty, covering the status of U.S. personnel in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom, was signed in Washington on October 19, 2012.
Both agreements form the legal framework for the U.S. presence at Hato Airport, which remains a strategic hub in the fight against drug trafficking in the region.
