THE HAGUE – Dutch Members of Parliament Jan Paternotte (D66) and Derk Boswijk (CDA) have called on Minister Veldkamp of Foreign Affairs and State Secretary Van Marum of Kingdom Relations to clarify the role of Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten in helping Russia circumvent international sanctions. Their questions follow an investigative report published by Follow the Money on July 20, 2025, which revealed that dozens of tankers in Russia’s shadow fleet are operating under the flags of these Caribbean countries.
In a series of parliamentary questions, Paternotte and Boswijk expressed deep concern over the alleged use of false flags linked to the Dutch Caribbean to transport Russian oil in defiance of EU sanctions.
Damage to the Kingdom's Reputation
The MPs asked the ministers how they assess the fact that these countries—autonomous nations within the Kingdom of the Netherlands—are being used to help Russia evade international sanctions. They warned that this practice seriously damages the credibility and reputation of the Kingdom on the global stage.
The lawmakers called it “unacceptable” that ships registered in Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten are potentially undermining global sanctions regimes, particularly those targeting countries like Russia and Iran.
Call for Greater Oversight
Paternotte and Boswijk demanded to know whether the Dutch government has adequate insight into how many vessels flying Caribbean flags are transporting oil for sanctioned nations. They also inquired what measures the Dutch cabinet has taken since EU sanctions were introduced to ensure that vessels under the Kingdom’s flags are not exploited by the Russian shadow fleet.
The parliamentarians urged the government to consider implementing stricter oversight of shipping registries in collaboration with Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten. They emphasized the need for tighter regulations and better enforcement of international sanctions compliance.
Concerns Over Capacity and Enforcement
The MPs highlighted that the government of Sint Maarten has acknowledged lacking the capacity to investigate ships operating outside its territorial waters. They asked what steps the Netherlands plans to take to support its Caribbean partners, including the possibility of developing or enhancing their own national shipping registries with stronger oversight mechanisms.
They further questioned whether the Netherlands has the legal authority to inspect, detain, or revoke the registration of vessels flying the flags of Aruba, Curaçao, or Sint Maarten if they are found to be involved in sanction violations.
Monitoring the Sale of Old Tankers
Finally, in light of the Follow the Money report that Western shipping companies have sold old tankers to questionable entities—some of which ended up in the Russian shadow fleet—the MPs asked what can be done to better regulate and monitor the transfer of aging vessels to third countries.
The government has not yet responded to the parliamentary questions, but the issue is expected to raise significant debate in the coming weeks, particularly regarding the role of the Dutch Caribbean in global maritime compliance and sanctions enforcement.
