THE HAGUE, WILLEMSTAD – The Dutch government has expressed its support for Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas in his efforts to resolve Curaçao's longstanding debt dispute with Venezuela. Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen confirmed the position during a parliamentary debate on his ministry's budget in The Hague on Wednesday.
Berendsen described Venezuela as an important economic partner for Curaçao and acknowledged that resolving outstanding financial obligations is an essential part of the gradual normalization of relations between the Netherlands and Venezuela.
Venezuelan oil in Curaçao
His remarks came in response to questions from JA21 Member of Parliament Michiel Hoogeveen, who sought clarification about economic agreements involving the Netherlands, Curaçao, and Venezuela following the restoration of diplomatic contacts with Caracas.
Hoogeveen referred to a meeting held in New York in late September between Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, Curaçao Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas, and Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodríguez.
The Dutch parliamentarian wanted to know what agreements had resulted from those discussions, particularly regarding Venezuela's oil industry and the potential economic benefits for Curaçao.
Debt Dispute Remains a Priority
In his response, Berendsen emphasized the historical relationship between Curaçao and Venezuela, particularly the role of Venezuelan oil in the island's economy.
He noted that Curaçao's refinery was originally designed to process crude oil from Venezuela, demonstrating the longstanding economic connections between the two countries.
According to the minister, relations between the Netherlands and Venezuela are gradually returning to normal, but unresolved financial issues must also be addressed.
One of those issues involves the outstanding debts connected to Curaçao and Venezuela.
Berendsen confirmed that the Dutch government supports Prime Minister Pisas in seeking a solution.
He also explained that the debt dispute was among the reasons Pisas participated in the September meeting with Rodríguez in New York.
The minister did not disclose whether that meeting produced a new repayment arrangement or specific commitments from Venezuela.
Previous Agreement Involved Venezuelan Oil Sales
The debt dispute has been under discussion for several years.
In late 2023, Curaçao reached an agreement with Venezuela's state-owned oil company PDVSA to settle outstanding debts through the sale of Venezuelan oil.
The arrangement was intended to provide a mechanism for recovering money owed through transactions involving Venezuelan crude.
At the time, refinery director Patrick Newton stated that Curaçao possessed a specific United States authorization that would allow the transaction to proceed despite restrictions associated with American sanctions.
According to Newton, the authorization meant the transaction would not be affected by the reintroduced sanctions.
However, the latest parliamentary exchange did not establish the current status of that arrangement, the amount of debt still outstanding, or whether additional repayments have been made.
Dutch Support Does Not Yet Mean a Final Agreement
Berendsen's statements confirm that the debt issue has the attention of the Dutch government at the highest diplomatic level.
They also demonstrate that Curaçao's financial interests have become part of broader discussions concerning the normalization of relations with Venezuela.
However, the minister did not announce a new agreement, repayment schedule, or financial settlement.
For Curaçao, the next important question is whether diplomatic support from The Hague will translate into concrete progress in recovering outstanding funds.
The involvement of Prime Minister Pisas in direct discussions with Venezuelan leadership indicates that the issue remains a priority in relations between the two countries.
For now, the Netherlands has confirmed its support, but the debt dispute remains unresolved.