The American military operation to seize Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro has put the Netherlands in an uncomfortable spot. Dutch politicians are trying to balance international law principles with the reality of having Caribbean islands sitting right next to Venezuela.
Saturday’s dramatic extraction of Maduro from Caracas sent shockwaves through Dutch political circles.
Not because anyone’s mourning the departure of an authoritarian leader, but because of what it means for international norms and regional security.
The Netherlands isn’t just an interested observer here. The Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire are part of the Dutch Kingdom, lying mere kilometres from Venezuela’s coastline.
Flights cancelled, cabinet stays quiet
The immediate impact was felt in the skies. KLM and other carriers scrambled to cancel flights to Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire as airspace closed amid security concerns, reports NOS.
As a result, thousands of travellers found themselves stranded on both sides of the Atlantic.
By Sunday, flights had cautiously resumed, though airlines continue urging passengers to stay alert to sudden changes.
Meanwhile, the caretaker government kept its response carefully neutral.
Foreign Affairs Minister David van Weel said the Netherlands doesn’t recognise Maduro’s regime but urged all parties to avoid escalation and respect international law, according to de Volkskrant.
Notably absent? Any condemnation of the American operation itself.
Politicians split on response
Rob Jetten, leader of D66 and part of coalition talks, was more direct.
By Saturday evening, he’d called Maduro “a cruel dictator” but labelled Trump’s actions as “contrary to international law” and creating “a precedent with major risks”.
PVV leader Geert Wilders, however, was characteristically blunt, writing “Bang Boom Maduro gone” on X.
Why the cautious response?
The Netherlands has been walking on eggshells for months.
The worry is straightforward: Venezuela might hit back at the US by targeting its closest neighbour, which is Dutch-controlled.
But less straightforward, the Dutch also now more or less fear their “ally”: the US.
As Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans told parliament in December, the government has been at pains to show it’s not involved in American operations near Venezuela. The Netherlands has responsibility for defending Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire.
But for example; there’s also Ukrainian aid to consider. The Netherlands needs American support for Ukraine to continue, adding another layer of diplomatic complexity.
What the law says
Dutch legal experts aren’t mincing their words. Speaking with de Volkskrant, Marieke de Hoon, who lectures in international criminal law at the University of Amsterdam, calls the operation “a crime of aggression”.
Meanwhile, Frans Osinga, professor of war studies at Leiden University, agrees. “From an international law perspective, the Netherlands should obviously condemn this. It’s completely illegal, neo-imperialist behaviour,” he tells the paper.
But he sees the impossible position: “The proximity of the Antilles and the fact that American support for Ukraine is still badly needed stands in the way of harsh condemnation.”
The Netherlands positions itself as guardian of international law, hosting The Hague’s international courts. Watching a major power bypass those structures hits differently when you’ve built your reputation on upholding them.
Parliament returns from recess this week for an emergency debate on Venezuela and its implications for Dutch policy.
What do you think about the Netherlands’ cautious response? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Feature Image: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons/CC2.0
I was born on Curaçao over sixty years ago and it was always known that Venezuela wanted the islands, as well as the Guyanas and Surinam, which it claims fall inside it’s natural borders. ‘Necessary for national defense’ as Trump and Putin would put it. So we have two megalomaniacal imperialist expansionists, one who breaks international law, and one who is a more direct threath.
The Dutch should openly condemn the attack on Venezuela so that the government of Venezuela is less likely to to aim their anger towards the ABC Islands. The islands should also condemn the attack for their own good.
The ICC should make no mistake. They have to condemn this according to the international rule of law. If they don’t they not trustworthy and biased. The ICC should also condemn the bombing of Nigeria on a bogus excuse. A priori the international community should condemn Trump’s plans to invade Greenland