WILLEMSTAD – The Dutch Ministry of Defense says it will expand cooperation in the fight against organized crime in the Caribbean as part of its new defense strategy.
In the Defensienota 2026, Defense states that it will invest in security for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, including through the Framework for Western Hemisphere Allied Cooperation. The ministry also says it will work to broaden cooperation against organized crime.
The announcement is relevant for Curaçao and the wider Dutch Caribbean, where transnational crime, drug trafficking and maritime smuggling remain persistent security concerns.
The policy paper links Caribbean security to broader regional instability. It warns that unrest in Venezuela could affect Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao through airspace restrictions, disruptions to maritime supply routes and new migration flows.
Because the Dutch Caribbean lies outside NATO treaty territory, the Netherlands says regional partnerships are particularly important.
The Defense Ministry's approach suggests that security in the Caribbean will increasingly depend on cooperation with regional partners, including the United States, coast guard organizations and other allies in the Western Hemisphere.
The policy paper does not provide detailed operational plans, but it makes clear that organized crime is now part of the broader security agenda for the Kingdom.