Venezuelan training ship Simón Bolívar not welcome in Curaçao

8 July 2024

A planned visit to Curaçao of the Venezuelan training ship Simón Bolívar on 3 July has been stopped by the Dutch foreign and defence ministries. A direct reason was not given.

However, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson did comment that ‘a visit by a Venezuelan fleet is not opportune at this time’. Presumably it has to do with the upcoming elections and human rights concerns in Venezuela.

The 1980-built tallship had been travelling through the Caribbean region for 84 days. The crew was due to attend the annual commemoration of the 242nd birth anniversary of Venezuelan hero Admiral Luis Brion in Curaçao on 6 July and return to Venezuela on 13 July.

The Dutch refusal caused surprise and disappointment. Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López was furious. He called it an “act of archaic and pernicious European arrogance” and spoke of “colonialism”.

Sources: Schuttevaer, antilliaansdagblad.com, curacao.nu

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