The Dutch government intends to extend its agreement with the United States allowing American aircraft to conduct counternarcotics operations from airports in Curaçao and Aruba for another five years, until November 2, 2031.
The proposed extension was confirmed in a report from the Foreign Affairs Council dated October 12, 2026. The decision comes despite concerns previously expressed in the Dutch Parliament about American military operations against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean.
The agreement, originally signed in 2000, allows the United States to use designated airport facilities in Curaçao and Aruba to conduct aerial surveillance, identify suspected drug shipments and gather intelligence related to international narcotics trafficking.
