The Dutch government refused to allow American forces to operate from its Caribbean island of Curaçao during the buildup to the US invasion of Venezuela in early January, according to a statement from the country’s foreign minister.
Foreign Minister David van Weel told parliament on January 8 that the Netherlands consistently denied permission for any US military activities linked to the operation, which began with a naval buildup in August 2025 and culminated in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro on January 3.
“We made it absolutely clear to the United States from the very start of the troop deployment that we wanted no part in this,” van Weel said during a parliamentary session. He expressed shock at the US operation, which involved airstrikes and the seizure of Maduro from his Caracas residence.
However, van Weel added that he did not mourn Maduro’s capture. The Dutch defense minister, Ruben Brekelmans, announced this week that the Netherlands had ceased joint anti-drug patrols with the US in the Caribbean, focusing instead on protecting waters around Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.
The “ABC” islands, part of the Dutch kingdom and located roughly 80 kilometers from Venezuela, experienced security disruptions during the US incursion. Van Weel reported “minor incidents” such as unauthorized military flights and air traffic interruptions, which prevented islanders from leaving temporarily. He noted that the situation has since normalized.
Defense equipment in the Netherlands remains on high alert, van Weel said, “until we are certain the situation stays stable.”
The capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, has drawn international criticism for violating sovereignty and international law, even from US allies. Trump described it as a “large-scale” operation and has since threatened other nations.
Maduro and Flores, now on trial in the US on drug trafficking charges, have pleaded not guilty and claim prisoner-of-war status. In parliament, an MP pressed van Weel to guarantee that US forces did not use Dutch bases. The minister confirmed that Curaçao’s base is reserved only for unarmed flights and that every US landing request was scrutinized for any link to the Venezuela operation, with permission denied if such a link existed.