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RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0218
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RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN PRIORITY 0048
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RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PRIORITY 0120

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CURACAO 000336 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  4/7/2016 
TAGS: PREL MARR NA AA NL
SUBJECT: VENEZUELANS COME "A-COURTIN'" TO CURACAO 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: ROBERT SORENSON, COM, AMCONSUL CURACAO, STATE. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
MESSAGE DELAYED IN TRANSMISSION 
¶1. (C) Summary. A high level Venezuelan Navy delegation led by 
CNO VADM Luis Chirinos Medina met with RADM Frank Sijtsma, 
Commander of Dutch Forces in the Caribbean, April 3. Sijtsma 
characterized the meeting as a "good step" in furthering naval 
cooperation with Venezuela in a follow up conversation with COM. 
Among the results of the meeting were: 
-- Venezuelan agreement to send observers to Caribbean Lion: 
-- Venezuela will "try" to participate in Caribbean Lion, 
perhaps providing a tanker; 
-- the revival of a cooperative agreement on information sharing 
between coast guards (previously held up by the Dutch MFA); 
-- an agreement to undertake a joint naval exercise this fall; 
and, 
-- enhancing navy-to-navy cooperation, including possible 
officer exchanges. 
Also raised on the margins was continuing Venezuelan distrust of 
the US Forward Operating Location with complaints that U.S. 
flights are frequently entering Venezuelan air space and concern 
over the presence of the USS George Washington in the region . 
Sijtsma claimed to have fended off complaints about the carrier 
and told the Venezuelans that if they have information about 
intrusions into Venezuelan airspace from aircraft from the FOLs, 
they should raise them. COM commented that if there were 
complaints about U.S. flights, it would be more appropriate to 
raise them at the US Embassy in Caracas. End Summary. 
¶2. (C) A high level Venezuelan Navy delegation led by CNO VADM 
Luis Chirinos Medina and accompanied by two other admirals, 
three captains as well as Venezuelan foreign affairs advisor 
Ambassador Palacios, formerly stationed in The Hague. Dutch 
Ambassador Neyerheis from Caracas and Dutch MFA representative 
Karel de Vey Mestdagh also participated. Sijtsma characterized 
the meeting as a good step forward and opined that it was 
advantageous to try to cooperate with the Venezuelan navy and 
coast guard. 
Understandings Reached 
------------------------------------ 
¶3. (C) The Venezuelans agreed to send observers for Caribbean 
Lion who will be on one of the Dutch vessels. In addition, the 
Venezuelans will "try" to participate in the exercise as well. 
Sijtsma thought it very possible that the Venezuelans would 
provide a tanker (currently in dry dock) for the exercise which 
would provide cheap fuel. At this late stage, Sijtsma felt that 
a tanker still could be easily incorporated into the exercise. 
¶4. (C) A previously negotiated information sharing agreement 
between their mutual coast guards was dusted off and will be 
revived. Sijtsma noted that the agreement had been moribund for 
a couple of years due to Dutch MFA insistence not to move 
forward on it. In addition, the Venezuelans discussed a document 
on intensified naval cooperation they were drafting. It was 
agreed that this document when completed could provide a 
blueprint for further discussions on enhanced cooperation. The 
Venezuelans also raised the possibility of officer exchanges, 
but Sijtsma was doubtful that this would be doable. Finally, it 
was agreed that planning would begin on a joint bilateral naval 
exercise in the autumn which would include a Dutch ship visit to 
one of the ports previously closed to them. 
"They hate the FOLs" 
------------------------------ 
¶5. (C) Sijtsma said that on the margins of the meeting the 
Venezuelans reiterated their vehement dislike for the U.S. FOLs 
and felt they were aimed at Venezuela with counter-narcotics as 
only a side mission. As "proof" of this, the Venezuelans claimed 
that there were frequent overflights of Venezuelan territory. 
Sijtsma underscored the important counter-narcotics role of the 
FOLs, but offered to investigate Venezuelan overflight 
complaints IF provided details. Sijtsma underscored to COM that 
it "would not be good" if US planes were indeed routinely 
violating Venezuelan airspace. COM responded that this was not 
our policy. The one incident of which he was aware actually 
involved crossing into Venezuelan FIRS and not territory, but 
agreed that any claimed intrusion into Venezuelan airspace by 
aircraft flying from the FOL should be investigated. COM added 
that if the Venezuelans had a complaint about U.S. aircraft it 
would be more appropriate for them to raise this directly with 
our Embassy in Caracas which Sijtsma acknowledged. Also raised 
on the margins was the Venezuelans concern about Partnership of 
the Americas and the presence of the USS George Washington. 
 
CURACAO 00000336  002 OF 002 
 
 
Sijtsma indicated he dismissed the concern without further 
comment. 
¶6. (C) Comment: As for the Venezuelans, they will continue to 
try to get the U.S. military out of Curacao and enhance their 
economic leverage . Keeping our activities at the FOLs clearly 
within the confines of the agreement and maintaining 
transparency with the Dutch should help ensure continued Dutch 
support for the FOLs. Local support for the FOLs remains strong. 
Over time the "success" of this meeting may well have a hollow 
ring for the locals as it may revive concerns about Dutch 
steadfastness. Perceptions of the cooperation (or lack thereof) 
with Partnership of the Americas will likely not be missed by 
our interlocutors here who will draw the conclusion that the 
Dutch paid for this "success," by supposedly distancing 
themselves from the US. We should not be drawn into a bidding 
war with Venezuela for local affection, but, with a new 
Netherlands Antilles government now settling in, we will need to 
engage more fully on broader areas of cooperation and interest 
to them. 
SORENSON