THE HAGUE – The governments of Curacao, Aruba and Sint Maarten are considering whether they will join the “framework treaty” that the Netherlands and the United States want to conclude.

The treaty regulates cooperation in the field of defense matters. The Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs, Ank Bijleveld and Stef Blok, have sent the necessary national law to the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament. Although the framework treaty is approved for the entire Kingdom, the agreements contained therein only apply to the European Netherlands, if the parliaments of Curacao, Aruba and Sint Maarten do not decide to “co-sign”.

In view of the current cooperation with the United States such as training, exercises and other activities, it is desirable to extend the operation of the Framework Convention to the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom in the future. The possibility for this is included in the Framework Convention. The governments of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten are discussing the co-reporting of the Framework Convention,” according to the explanatory memorandum.

AWACS aircraft on Hato

While Bijleveld and Blok sent the draft Kingdom Act to the Chamber, the government of Curaçao announced that “in the context of enhanced international cooperation between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United States in the fight against illegal drug activities” the Americans are temporarily stationing the AWACS aircraft on Hato. “The aircraft is to support current efforts in the fight against organized crime in the Caribbean region in the coming period,” said the government statement in Willemstad.