Reference News Network, January 7 report. According to the website of Belgium's "Politico Europe" on January 6, the Netherlands is reducing its participation in the U.S.-led anti-drug operation in the Caribbean, as a response to the increasing number of deaths caused by the U.S. military's use of force against ships suspected of drug smuggling.
Dutch Defense Minister Lieke Vermeulen-Breukelman said on the evening of January 5 in Aruba that the Dutch military will continue to conduct anti-drug activities in Dutch territorial waters, but will not use naval "permanent vessels" to intercept operations related to the U.S. "Southern Spear" operation in international waters.
This operation, which started in September 2025, has already targeted more than 20 ships that the U.S. claims are transporting drugs, resulting in over 100 deaths.
Vermeulen-Breukelman said: "We have been cooperating with Americans on drug enforcement for many years, but in a different way. If we find drug trafficking, we try to arrest and prosecute the responsible persons, rather than firing at the ships."
A spokesperson for the Dutch Ministry of Defense told "Politico" that the cooperation with the U.S. has not been completely interrupted, and stated that through the Southern Joint Interagency Task Force, the Netherlands "has been working with the U.S. and other partners for many years."
The spokesperson said that what has changed is the role of the Dutch permanent vessel, which is currently monitoring the regional security situation instead of being used for drug enforcement missions. (Translated by Yang Xinpeng)
Original source: toutiao.com/article/7592529087269208617/
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