WILLEMSTAD – This week, Curaçao served as the host for the semi-annual trilateral meeting between defense partners from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the United States, and France. The gathering is part of the Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S), a U.S.-led initiative aimed at combating drug trafficking and other forms of transnational crime in the Caribbean region. 

Representing the Kingdom of the Netherlands within JIATF-S is the Royal Netherlands Navy unit CZMCARIB, which has been involved in the international task force for over thirty years. Delegations from the three nations convened to discuss current developments in smuggling routes, operational collaboration, intelligence sharing, and new strategies to strengthen their joint efforts. 

Maritime cooperation among the three partners is being described as highly effective. In recent weeks, Dutch and French forces conducted a joint counter-narcotics operation, while the Netherlands also maintains a close working relationship with the United States. The Dutch naval ship Zr. Ms. Friesland is currently operating in tandem with the U.S. Coast Guard, supported by a U.S. boarding team, helicopter, and other Coast Guard assets. 

Officials from all three countries emphasized that the meeting reflects their shared commitment to a safer and more stable Caribbean. The ongoing joint operations are designed to curb illegal trafficking routes used to move narcotics and other contraband from the Caribbean toward North America and Europe.