THE HAGUE, WILLEMSTAD – The Dutch government says it will not intervene to compensate for the loss of financial support from the United States that is affecting NGOs and civil society initiatives in Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten. This was confirmed by Dutch State Secretary for Kingdom Relations, Zsolt Szabó, in response to written questions from Dutch MP Raoul White (GroenLinks-PvdA).
According to Szabó, it is primarily the responsibility of the local governments of the autonomous Caribbean countries to address the impact of reduced U.S. funding—particularly that of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). These funds previously supported a range of social, healthcare, and legal aid programs, including services for undocumented migrants, vulnerable populations, and those seeking protection.
Szabó acknowledged that USAID's budget cuts are affecting international NGOs active in the region, but he emphasized that the Kingdom of the Netherlands is not responsible for replacing these lost resources. “The special constitutional relationship does not imply that the Kingdom must compensate for the discontinuation of external funding,” he stated. “This remains a primary responsibility of the Caribbean countries.”
The response follows concerns that vulnerable sectors, including healthcare and education, could suffer from the sudden loss of U.S. financial support. One specific example is the Curaçaoan NGO Salú pa Tur, which provides frontline care to undocumented individuals. It received a one-time emergency contribution from the Curaçao government to maintain its services, with the Dutch government having made a modest contribution to the organization in 2024.
While declining to take direct financial responsibility, the Dutch government expressed willingness to play a facilitating role in helping NGOs identify alternative funding sources, such as EU humanitarian and development funds. Szabó noted that the Netherlands could offer support through the National Contact Points (NCPs) at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), which helps organizations navigate grant applications and training sessions.
The Dutch cabinet also confirmed that recent administrative talks with the CAS islands (Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten) have included discussions on the impact of USAID’s funding freeze. However, Szabó made clear that proactive Dutch financial support in response to the cuts is not currently on the table.
On migration and human rights, Szabó acknowledged the important role that local and international organizations play in assisting migrants and asylum seekers, particularly Venezuelans. Still, he stressed that migration policy is a matter for the autonomous governments, and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) remains the legal framework guiding protection requests in both the Caribbean and European parts of the Kingdom.
Szabó reaffirmed that the Dutch government values cooperation with the CAS islands based on equality, mutual respect, and shared responsibility, but ultimately holds that each country must manage its own migration and social policies, even in challenging financial circumstances.
As the U.S. prepares for broader global aid reductions, NGOs in the region now face increased uncertainty—while The Hague appears unwilling to offer more than limited technical support. The political message from the Netherlands is clear: autonomy means ownership, including in times of financial adversity.
