THE HAGUE – In response to a proposal by BBB party member Gijs Tuinman, the Second Chamber Committee for Kingdom Relations has resolved to convene a round table discussion in the upcoming spring, focusing on "the implications of geopolitical developments surrounding the Caribbean part of the Kingdom."
Tuinman highlighted escalating tensions between Venezuela and Guyana, the recent political shifts in Brazil and Argentina, and the forthcoming U.S. presidential elections, stressing their potential impacts on the Caribbean region. Jan Paternotte (D66) expressed support for the initiative and emphasized the need to address China's growing influence in the Caribbean territories of the Kingdom. However, Peter van Haasen (PVV) was the sole committee member not enthusiastic, stating, "We are not waiting for that." External experts will be invited to participate in the round table discussion.
In a related development, Minister of Defense Ollongren, in a letter to the Chamber outlining the annual plan of the Military Intelligence and Security Service, reported that "the MIVD and the AIVD are collaboratively investigating political and military developments in Venezuela. Recent territorial claims by a neighboring country and potential ramifications toward the Kingdom of the Netherlands underscore the urgency of such inquiries."