Three small Dutch islands sit 50 kilometres off the Venezuelan coast. Paris and The Hague fear tangible collateral damage to territories.Â
France, the Netherlands, and the UK limit intelligence sharing with Washington regarding the Caribbean. Practical concerns drive the freeze. European powers worry Washington utilises data for strikes illegal under international law.
Actions respond to a campaign where 76 people died in 19 strikes on Caribbean vessels.
Washington asserts narcotics presence pending unpublished evidence. UN High Commissioner Volker Türk condemned attacks as unacceptable extrajudicial killings outside international law.
Agencies act on legal assessments. Dimitri Zoulas of the French police unit OFAS stated Europe stops sending operational intelligence given military strike risks.
Erik Akerboom of Dutch civilian intelligence told De Volkskrant vigilance regarding politicisation prevents sharing data capable of weaponisation.
Geography Dictates Policy
ABC islands sit 50 kilometers from Venezuela. Dutch territorial proximity to the mainland imposes vulnerability.
Authorities fear islands occupy the front line in kinetic war. Stakes apply equally to other powers.
France maintains Martinique and Guadeloupe as full departments housing citizens voting in Paris elections. The spillover constitutes an immediate domestic political crisis.
Britain holds smaller territories like Anguilla. London limited sharing given boat strike risks. Possessions built on plantation agriculture present modern security questions.
Economic Fallout
Friction triggers commercial contraction.
Major carriers including Iberia, TAP, LATAM, Avianca, and GOL suspended flights citing security. TAP cited safety guarantees absent in airspace following FAA warnings.Â
Separated families endure arduous journeys. Dutch islands rely on Venezuelan energy and trade. Curaçao refines petroleum products and Bonaire hosts tourists; both economies require regional stability.
Diplomatic Dual Strategies
Europe articulates dual strategies. Diplomatic rhetoric remains tough. The European Council prolonged sanctions through January 2026. Josep Borrell publicly called for ending arbitrary detentions. Existing measures include arms embargoes satisfying committees.
Agencies perform quiet withdrawal. Agencies protect territories through operational silence. Physical risks outweigh moral positioning. Stance embodies actual positions. Strategy evolves past colonial frameworks.
Priorities favor population safety amidst Washington’s operational demands. Principled positions on elections need not enable military actions. Neither Washington nor Brussels offers immediate prosperity.
Paris, Amsterdam, and London prioritise preventing war on their doorstep over maintaining intelligence pipelines. European Caribbean territories outlast current friction. Geography remains constant through political fluctuations.
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