Community organizations from Aruba, Curaçao, St. Martin, and St. Eustatius have issued a joint statement opposing any proposal that could introduce mandatory military enlistment in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The groups say they are responding to reports that compulsory military service may be under consideration at the Kingdom level. They argue that no such policy should be introduced without consultation, transparency, and democratic approval from the Caribbean countries.
In the statement, the organizations describe the islands as communities rooted in peace, cultural resilience, and self-determination. They also cite the region's history of slavery and colonialism, arguing that compulsory military service would carry significant historical and constitutional implications.
The coalition is calling for three actions: written clarification on whether such a proposal exists, a formal guarantee that no compulsory enlistment will be imposed without local consultation, and a Kingdom-level dialogue involving Caribbean representatives.
At this time, no official announcement has been made by the Government of the Netherlands or the Kingdom confirming that mandatory military service will be introduced in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom. The statement represents the concerns and demands of the organizations that issued it.