WILLEMSTAD - Vice Prime Minister Charles Cooper has briefed parliamentary faction leaders on the current security situation in the Caribbean region, following rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela and increased U.S. military activity off the Venezuelan coast. The meeting, held behind closed doors as a session of the College van Senioren, was convened to update the political leadership on potential risks and the government’s response strategies.

The high-level briefing comes at a moment of heightened concern across the Dutch Caribbean. Recent American military operations in the region — including actions that drew questions in The Hague about the safety of residents on the ABC Islands — have prompted local leaders to demand greater clarity and preparedness.

MAN-PIN MP Suzanne Camelia-Römer recently sent a formal letter to Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas urging more transparency regarding potential threats and the implications for Curaçao’s security. She argued that Parliament must be regularly and fully informed, especially given the proximity of the island to Venezuela and its role within the broader Kingdom of the Netherlands.

“Parliament cannot operate in the dark while geopolitical tensions escalate around us,” she wrote, emphasizing that Curaçao’s elected representatives should be kept up to date on risk assessments, emergency plans and any coordination with the Dutch or American governments.

The government has not yet released details of the closed-door briefing, but officials indicate that discussions included the island’s preparedness, intelligence coordination within the Kingdom, and potential scenarios involving regional instability.

The issue has gained urgency as political leaders in the Netherlands have also demanded answers. Dutch MPs this week submitted written questions to the ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense about the safety of residents on the ABC Islands and whether American military operations could pose risks to the region. They also asked for clarity on the role — if any — of U.S. military assets stationed on Curaçao and Aruba.

Curaçao’s government is expected to provide further information to Parliament in the coming days, as calls grow for clear communication and coordinated planning at a time of shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Caribbean.