Prime Minister meets with Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Netherlands.
ORANJESTAD —The outgoing Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes recently traveled to the Netherlands and met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Caspar Veldkamp.
They discussed two key topics during the meeting: the current situation in Venezuela and the position of the new American government.
Topic: Venezuela
The Prime Minister stated that the situation in Venezuela is a concern for the Aruban government. It is crucial to understand the impact that internal developments and the human rights situation in Venezuela have on Aruba. Additionally, Aruba seeks clarity on the European Union’s position on Venezuela, as they do not recognize President Maduro as the rightful election winner and did not attend his inauguration. The Prime Minister informed Minister Veldkamp of the need for clarity for Aruba on this matter. Venezuela is very close to Aruba, and many people have family, economic, and cultural ties to the country.
Topic: New Government in the U.S.
Another important issue the Prime Minister discussed in various meetings in The Hague was the position of the new U.S. government regarding migration policies. President Trump has declared that he will enforce much stricter immigration controls. Therefore, the Aruban government needs to stay informed about these developments, as decisions made in the U.S. could have significant effects, particularly on Aruba’s principal economic pillar: tourism, with most visitors coming from the U.S.
They exchanged ideas and discussed various scenarios to ensure better preparation for possible developments. Regarding the U.S. decision to raise import tariffs, they acknowledge that this would inevitably affect the cost of living in Aruba as products would become more expensive. While this measure does not yet have an immediate impact on Aruba, it is crucial to have contingency plans to mitigate any effects once they arise.
Minister Veldkamp took the opportunity to thank the Prime Minister for representing the Kingdom of the Netherlands on various occasions, such as at the United Nations and different presidential inaugurations in the region.
The prime minister thanked Minister Veldkamp for the opportunity to meet and emphasized the importance of maintaining good cooperation and relations between Aruba and the Dutch government.