The Netherlands limits anti-drug operations with the US in the Caribbean

The Netherlands is withdrawing from joint anti-drug operations with the US in international Caribbean waters after a change in American tactics towards smugglers, the NOS website reported. Dutch ships will remain in territorial waters.

The Dutch Navy is temporarily limiting cooperation with the United States in combating drug smuggling in the Caribbean region. Dutch ships will no longer participate in operations in international waters, focusing solely on protecting the territorial waters of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The decision was announced by Acting Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans during his visit to Aruba. As he explained, this is a reaction to US actions, which – according to the authorities in The Hague – consist in shooting at suspicious entities without any attempts to arrest them or bring them to justice. As a result of such actions, over a hundred people were killed.

Until recently, the Netherlands cooperated closely with the US in the region, where Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire – parts of the Kingdom – lie on key smuggling routes. Over the past five years, the Dutch navy has seized tens of thousands of kilograms of cocaine there, and detained smugglers have been handed over to American authorities.

At the same time, the government in The Hague is monitoring the security situation after American attacks on targets in Venezuela and the detention of President Nicolas Maduro. According to the authorities, there is currently no direct threat to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, but scenarios are being prepared in the event of an escalation of the conflict or an influx of refugees.

Patryk Kulpok (PAP)

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