THE HAGUE – Rising geopolitical tensions surrounding Venezuela and the eventual detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had a direct impact on security operations in the Caribbean region during 2025, according to the newly released annual report of the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard.
The report, submitted to the Dutch House of Representatives by Dutch Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, states that the unstable situation in Venezuela and increasing tensions between Venezuela and the United States affected the overall security environment around the Dutch Caribbean islands.
According to the letter, Dutch ministries closely monitored the developments together with the governments of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
The report reveals that the Dutch Navy’s Caribbean station ship, which is normally periodically deployed to support Coast Guard operations, was largely redirected toward military monitoring missions around the Leeward Islands because of regional tensions.
As a result, the vessel was not fully available for international counter-drug operations during part of the year.
The Coast Guard stated that the ship continued assisting with anti-drug missions within the territorial waters of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom when necessary, but its reduced availability affected broader maritime enforcement activities.
The annual report describes the Coast Guard as a key link in the Kingdom’s law enforcement chain in the Caribbean. Besides search and rescue operations, the organization is responsible for counter-narcotics operations, border control, anti-terrorism efforts, environmental enforcement and combating irregular migration.
According to the Dutch government, the Coast Guard also plays an increasingly important role in the fight against organized crime throughout the region.
The report further notes that the Coast Guard continued expanding in 2025, adding nearly 80 full-time positions as part of an ongoing personnel transition program expected to be completed in 2026.
On the equipment side, the Coast Guard is also working on replacing its cutter fleet and smaller patrol vessels, while new coastal detection capabilities are being developed for the Windward Islands.
The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard operates as a joint Kingdom organization serving Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands.