The Netherlands has announced a significant shift in its security cooperation with the United States in the Caribbean, limiting joint anti-drug operations following a series of US military actions that have drawn sharp international criticism. The decision comes amid growing concerns over sovereignty, the use of force in international waters, and Washington’s increasingly aggressive posture toward Venezuela.

Dutch Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans confirmed this week that the Royal Netherlands Navy will no longer participate in US-led counter-narcotics missions outside Dutch territorial waters. The announcement follows American military strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea-operations that Dutch officials say cross a legal and moral line.

While the Netherlands remains committed to combating drug trafficking, Brekelmans made clear that future efforts will be confined to protecting Dutch Caribbean territories, including Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. These islands, located just off the coast of Venezuela, are integral to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and have long been vulnerable to narcotics transit routes.

Speaking during an official visit to Aruba, Brekelmans emphasized that while the Netherlands and the United States have collaborated on drug enforcement for many years, their methods now diverge sharply.

“When we see drug smuggling taking place, we try to arrest and prosecute those involved,” Brekelmans told reporters. “But not by shooting down ships.”

This distinction lies at the heart of the Dutch decision. According to Brekelmans, US military operations under Operation Southern Spear-which began intensifying in September-have included more than 20 lethal attacks on speedboats suspected of carrying narcotics. These actions, carried out in........

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