WILLEMSTAD – Rising tensions between Washington and Caracas are fueling unease in Curaçao, as the United States ramps up military pressure on Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, whom it considers a global threat.
President Donald Trump has ordered several warships, a submarine, and other military assets toward Venezuela under the banner of “counter-narcotics and anti-terrorism operations.” Yet the Caribbean islands, located just miles from the Venezuelan coast, are being pulled into the geopolitical standoff.
Many residents feel uneasy about Curaçao’s role in the unfolding drama: “On the island, people would rather see the Americans leave than arrive. Maintaining good relations with Venezuela is viewed as far more important.”
Speculation intensified this week when reports suggested that 4,500 U.S. troops were scheduled to land on Curaçao but did not disembark at the last moment. Some on the island linked the cancellation to the island-wide blackout, though no official confirmation has been given. Maduro, for his part, denounced the U.S. buildup as an “act of aggression” and called on Venezuelan militias to arm themselves in defense of the nation.
Curaçao’s Delicate Position
Just 65 kilometers from Venezuela’s coast, Curaçao sits at the crossroads of the geopolitical struggle. While the Curaçaoan government and Dutch intelligence services have reassured the public that open conflict is unlikely, they do acknowledge the risk of unintended escalation.
The U.S. insists the deployment is aimed at disrupting drug smuggling networks. Dutch and French forces already cooperate with Washington on anti-narcotics missions in the Caribbean. Yet, defense analysts have raised eyebrows: some U.S. vessels in the region are equipped with Tomahawk missiles, suggesting a broader strategic purpose. Aviation spotters have also reported surveillance aircraft operating from the American forward base at Hato Airport, not solely counter-narcotics planes.
Unease With The Hague’s Role
For many on the island, the deeper concern lies in governance. Decisions about Curaçao’s role in the standoff are made in The Hague, not Willemstad, since defense and foreign affairs are Kingdom matters. This fuels fears that Curaçao could be dragged into a conflict without having a real say.
Prime Minister Gilmar “Pik” Pisas has acknowledged public anxiety, warning that Curaçao’s close cooperation with the United States could provoke retaliatory measures from Venezuela.
Fragile Relations With Venezuela
The tensions come at a sensitive time in Curaçao–Venezuela relations. After a three-year border closure due to gold smuggling, ties had cautiously improved, with cross-border travel resuming. Yet the relationship remains fragile: about 10 percent of Curaçao’s population consists of mostly undocumented Venezuelan migrants who fled Maduro’s regime.
How the current standoff will impact those ties—and the island’s long-term security—remains unclear. For now, residents watch with growing concern as great power politics unfold just off their shores.
