WILLEMSTAD – Current geopolitical tensions in the Caribbean and Curaçao’s strategic position within the Kingdom were at the center of an open lecture held yesterday at the University of Curaçao. The event took place at a time when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting the region for talks with Caribbean leaders.
Rubio is attending the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit in Saint Kitts and Nevis, where discussions are focused on security, economic cooperation, energy and migration. Among the regional leaders present at the summit is Curaçao’s Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas.
During the lecture and the subsequent panel discussion, speakers stressed that Rubio’s presence in the Caribbean should be seen as part of a broader geopolitical shift. According to the panelists, the United States is seeking to strengthen its influence in the region at a time when the Caribbean is once again gaining strategic importance amid rising international tensions.
The panel featured former prime minister and member of the Curaçao Parliament Suzy Camelia-Römer, former ambassador and ex-director of Foreign Relations Lucita Moenir Alam, and former prime minister Etienne Ys. They argued that the Caribbean plays a more significant role in international relations than is often assumed, particularly because Caribbean nations collectively hold a substantial number of votes in the United Nations General Assembly.
At the same time, the speakers noted that several Caribbean countries maintain longstanding ties with Cuba, while Washington is actively seeking to shape regional cooperation and political direction. Developments surrounding Venezuela further heighten the region’s sensitivity, with security concerns and instability drawing renewed attention from major global powers.
Within this shifting geopolitical landscape, the position of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is also coming more sharply into focus. According to the panelists, international dynamics directly affect Curaçao’s strategic location and raise questions about how the Kingdom coordinates its foreign policy across its constituent countries.
A central issue raised during the lecture was whether the Kingdom has sufficient shared direction and vision in foreign affairs at a time of increasing global tensions. The discussion highlighted growing calls for clearer coordination and strategic alignment as Curaçao and the wider Caribbean navigate an increasingly complex international environment.