During his visit to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, Prime Minister Dick Schoof rendered a work visit on Sunday, May 11 to the Commander of the Naval Force in the Caribbean Region (CZMCARIB), Commander Walter Hansen.
At the Parera Naval Base on Curaçao, the Prime Minister was briefed on the tasks and responsibilities of Defence and the Coast Guard in the Caribbean Region. He was informed thereby about the military presence, operations and collaborations with security partners. The emphasis was on the increased geopolitical tensions in the Caribbean region and the shift to Defence's first main task: protecting the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. Current topics were also discussed during the meeting, such as combating cross-border crime, humanitarian aid and the role of Defence in providing assistance when countries in the Caribbean request it.
After the briefing, Prime Minister Schoof and Commander Hansen took a short boat trip on board a Metal Shark of the Caribbean Coast Guard. A press conference then followed at the Parera Naval Base, in which the Prime Minister emphasized how important it is that the Kingdom's external borders are being well-guarded. Especially in these times of geopolitical unrest.
