WILLEMSTAD – The Dutch government intends to extend its agreement with the United States allowing American aircraft to conduct counternarcotics operations from airports in Curaçao and Aruba for another five years, until November 2, 2031.
The proposed extension was confirmed in a report from the Foreign Affairs Council dated October 12, 2026. The decision comes despite concerns previously expressed in the Dutch Parliament about American military operations against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean.
The agreement, originally signed in 2000, allows the United States to use designated airport facilities in Curaçao and Aruba to conduct aerial surveillance, identify suspected drug shipments and gather intelligence related to international narcotics trafficking.
These facilities are known as Forward Operating Locations (FOL), although the installation at Curaçao's Hato International Airport is also referred to as a Cooperative Security Location (CSL).
According to the Dutch government, the agreement authorizes only unarmed surveillance flights. It does not provide authorization for armed military operations from the islands.
The planned renewal would mark the fourth extension of the agreement.
The Dutch government argues that the Netherlands and the United States share a strong interest in combating organized crime and cross-border drug trafficking in the Caribbean region.
Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen previously indicated that the Netherlands does not intend to impose additional conditions on Washington as part of the extension.
According to Berendsen, the United States remains the most important partner for the Netherlands and the Caribbean islands in efforts to combat transnational organized crime.
However, the proposed renewal comes at a politically sensitive moment.
American military operations targeting vessels suspected of transporting drugs have raised questions about the legal basis for the use of lethal force in international waters.
The United States maintains that its operations target drug traffickers linked to terrorist organizations. However, critics argue that Washington has not publicly presented sufficient evidence to justify the attacks.
International legal experts and human rights organizations have also questioned whether the operations comply with international law.
The Dutch government has emphasized that the Kingdom of the Netherlands was not involved in the American strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels.
Nevertheless, the continued American presence at Hato Airport has attracted additional attention because of concerns about the distinction between authorized surveillance activities and other military operations in the region.
Curaçao Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas has previously expressed support for maintaining cooperation with the United States, arguing that the American presence contributes to Curaçao's security and the fight against drug trafficking.
The proposed extension is not yet final.
Under the Kingdom Act on the Approval and Publication of Treaties, the Dutch government must formally notify the Parliaments of Curaçao and Aruba of its intention to extend the agreement.
Certain parliamentary representatives can subsequently request that the extension be subjected to a formal approval procedure.
If completed, the renewal would allow the United States to continue operating its counternarcotics surveillance missions from Curaçao and Aruba until November 2031.