WILLEMSTAD – The Dutch Ministry of Defense plans to strengthen the protection of the Kingdom by maintaining a permanent Marine presence in the Caribbean, according to the Defensienota 2026.
The policy paper states that Defense will improve the protection of the Kingdom through the permanent presence of a Marine unit in the Caribbean region. The measure is part of broader investments in maritime capabilities and the strengthening of Dutch military readiness.
The decision comes at a time when the Netherlands is reassessing security risks in both Europe and the Caribbean. The Defense Ministry identifies instability in Venezuela as a direct concern for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, warning that Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao could be affected by regional tensions.
The Marine presence is expected to support several tasks, including the protection of Kingdom territory, crisis response, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and cooperation with regional partners.
The policy paper also highlights the importance of maritime security, stronger intelligence capabilities, logistics, drones and cooperation with civil authorities. These elements are increasingly relevant for the Caribbean, where security challenges include drug trafficking, migration flows, natural disasters and geopolitical tensions.
The Defense Ministry does not specify in the cited section whether the permanent Marine unit will be based in Curaçao or elsewhere in the Dutch Caribbean, but Curaçao already plays an important role in Dutch military operations in the region.