The Netherlands has had “several contacts” with the United States this week about “concerns” surrounding flying over the Caribbean. Outgoing Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans (VVD) said this on social media on Saturday reportedministers from other ministries share the same statement. Commander of the Armed Forces Onno Echelsheim has “spoken with his American counterpart about air traffic safety.” Defense also had “a lot of contact” with Southcom, the command of the US army in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Tensions in the region, including between the US and Venezuela, are constantly increasing. The US military presence in the Caribbean is increasing. The US killed at least eight people in attacks on suspected drug boats last week. Last weekend, two American military aircraft almost collided with other aircraft over Curaçao after they switched off their transponder (which, among other things, shares information about the location of the aircraft). On Wednesday, Aruban Prime Minister Mike Eman said that the Americans were switching on their transponders again.
The incidents did not take place directly over Curaçao, but in the Flight Information Region, Commander of the Navy in the Caribbean Walter Hansen said on Friday. NRC. “That is an area that is much larger than the territorial airspace, in which Curaçao is responsible for aviation communications.” In his statement on Saturday, Minister Brekelmans also talked about incidents within the Flight Information Region. Hansen emphasized that tensions between the US and Venezuela currently do not pose a direct military threat to the nearby islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. “It is not likely that the Kingdom will become involved in a conflict, but it is not impossible.”
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