WILLEMSTAD – The recent collapse of the Dutch cabinet has raised concerns in Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten about the future of cooperation agreements with the Netherlands. While the news is widely reported in local media, the implications are mainly being felt at the governmental level. 

Unlike the Caribbean municipalities of Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Bonaire, which fall directly under Dutch administration, the autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands work with the Dutch government across numerous sectors. Each cabinet change or collapse tends to generate uncertainty—particularly when it comes to financial commitments. 

One such example is the €150 million pledged by outgoing Minister for Climate and Green Growth, Sophie Hermans, during her recent visit to Curaçao. The funds are intended to support the energy transition in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. Local authorities are now questioning whether this promise will be upheld by the next government, or whether the allocation will be revised. 

A similar situation occurred during the formation of the current Schoof cabinet. Under the previous Rutte IV government, €130 million was earmarked for island projects through the National Growth Fund. After the cabinet transition, €50 million was cut from that amount. The remaining €80 million was rebranded as a “new investment,” a move that was widely criticized on the islands as simply repackaging existing funds. 

Speculation is also mounting over the departure of State Secretary for Kingdom Relations, Zsolt Szabó, who represented the far-right PVV. His approach was markedly different from that of his predecessor, Alexandra van Huffelen (D66), who was known for her relational style and frequent dialogue with local leaders. Szabó adopted a more businesslike stance, highlighting issues like corruption from the outset—remarks that were perceived on the islands as undiplomatic. 

Skepticism toward the PVV’s role in Kingdom affairs remains. Past statements by party figures—suggesting, for instance, that the islands should be “put up for sale” on online marketplaces—have strained relations. Nonetheless, local officials acknowledge that the tone of the PVV has softened since entering government. As one observer in Willemstad put it: “The soup wasn’t eaten as hot as it was served.”