WILLEMSTAD – The Dutch Ministry of Defense warns in its 2026 Defense Policy Paper that instability in Venezuela poses a security threat to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, especially Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.
According to the document, the ABC islands could be affected if tensions between Venezuela and the United States escalate. Possible consequences include the closure of airspace due to military activity, reduced maritime supply of goods and a new migration flow toward the islands.
The warning places Curaçao and the other Dutch Caribbean islands more prominently within the Kingdom's defense strategy. Although the main focus of the policy paper is the growing threat in Europe, the Caribbean region is also identified as vulnerable because of regional instability, organized crime and geopolitical tensions.
The Defense Ministry notes that the Caribbean part of the Kingdom is outside the NATO treaty area, making regional cooperation and partnerships even more important.
For Curaçao, the assessment is significant because of the island's proximity to Venezuela, its dependence on maritime supply routes and its role as a regional logistics and security hub.
The policy paper indicates that Dutch Defense will continue investing in partnerships and security cooperation in the Caribbean, including through the Framework for Western Hemisphere Allied Cooperation and expanded cooperation against organized crime.
