European allies uneasy over US operations near Venezuela as intelligence sharing tightens

European governments are expressing growing unease over a series of US military actions targeting alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers, as well as recent remarks by Donald Trump suggesting he may consider a ground assault against President Nicolas Maduro, according to diplomats and security officials familiar with the situation. The concerns center on the strategic risks posed to France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, all of which maintain territories in the Caribbean that could be affected by escalating tensions.

The impact of the slowdown in major global economies will be “smaller” on the UAE’s growth and exports due to its relatively less exposure to those markets compared to other markets across the region, the World Bank said.

France oversees the islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe along with French Guiana on the South American mainland, while the UK still governs several small overseas territories in the region. The Netherlands faces the closest geographic exposure through the islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, located about 50 kilometers off Venezuela’s coast.

Venezuelan officials have accused Washington of attempting to trigger regime change through a military build-up that includes an aircraft carrier group, warships and stealth jets. The United States, for its part, alleges that Maduro heads a criminal drug network, a claim he denies. Since September, at least 83 people have been killed in US air strikes on boats accused of smuggling narcotics in international waters. Publicly released information has not included evidence confirming that the targets were drug traffickers.

Trump recently stated that he believes Maduro’s time in power is nearing its end and said he would not rule out sending troops, while also leaving open the possibility of dialogue. These comments have intensified European unease, particularly in the Netherlands, where officials fear that the ABC islands could be thrust into a frontline position if a conflict breaks out.

In response, multiple European sources say France, the Netherlands and the UK have all restricted certain intelligence flows to Washington. Dutch intelligence chief Erik Akerboom publicly expressed caution, stressing vigilance regarding political misuse of intelligence and possible human rights concerns. A senior French police official told Radio Caraibes that no European state is sending operational intelligence that could be used as the basis for a strike, citing strict legal constraints.

In London, the Times reported that Attorney General Richard Hermer recommended halting intelligence sharing that could be used for targeted killings in the Caribbean. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed these reports as untrue.

Former MI6 chief Richard Dearlove told AFP that the situation reflects a legal disagreement rather than a broader rupture. According to him, such issues arise periodically and do not alter the core structure of transatlantic intelligence cooperation. European intelligence officials also acknowledge that the United States provides significant information to its allies and that their own contributions to US counter-narcotics efforts in the region are limited.

A French security source described the overall impact of the current restrictions as largely theoretical, adding that the United States is not dependent on European intelligence in the Caribbean.