SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Dutch Ministry of Defense has been assigned a permanent task to continuously monitor the security situation surrounding the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, the ministry said in a statement on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
This strengthens the Netherlands' information position in the region. This enables timely anticipation of geopolitical and destabilizing developments. The cabinet announced this on Saturday.
The security situation in the Caribbean has become more complex due to rising geopolitical tensions. To maintain an up-to-date situational awareness, it is important to monitor threats in the region.
Improved situational awareness
Since September of last year, the armed forces have been monitoring developments in the area under a temporary mandate. However, there is a significant need for continuous additional information regarding the Caribbean Sea and the activities of both state and non-state actors.
The Ministry of Defense is now tasked with tracking developments across all domains as far as these could potentially impact the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. This will allow the armed forces to identify and interpret threats more rapidly.
One example of this is tracking changes in the military presence and activities of other nations in the region. By monitoring these developments on a structural basis, the Ministry of Defense can detect changes in a timely manner.
Structural implementation
This task is being integrated into the armed forces' existing operational readiness mandates. Through this, the Ministry of Defense makes a structural contribution to protecting the interests of the Kingdom.
The Ministry of Defense already maintains a permanent presence in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, with personnel and equipment drawn from its various branches. In this way, the Ministry of Defense contributes to protecting the integrity of the territory of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, upholding and promoting the international legal order, and providing assistance to civil authorities.
