WILLEMSTAD – The Dutch Caribbean is not covered by NATO's collective defense guarantee, the Dutch Ministry of Defense emphasizes in its 2026 Defense Policy Paper.
The document states that NATO remains the cornerstone of defense for the European part of the Kingdom, but adds in a footnote that the Caribbean part of the Kingdom is not part of NATO treaty territory.
That distinction is important for Curaçao, Aruba, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Saba and Sint Eustatius. It means that a security threat in the Dutch Caribbean does not automatically fall under NATO's Article 5 collective defense mechanism.
Because of this, the Netherlands says stronger regional partnerships in the Caribbean are especially important. The Defense Ministry states that the Kingdom must work with partners outside the NATO framework to protect Dutch interests in the region.
The policy paper specifically points to instability in Venezuela as a threat to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao could face disruptions if tensions in the region escalate, including airspace closures, reduced maritime supply and migration pressure.
The Defense Ministry says it will continue investing in Caribbean security cooperation and in the fight against organized crime. These measures are intended to strengthen the Kingdom's ability to respond to regional risks even without NATO treaty protection.