Dutch, Colombian Marines Conduct First Joint Jungle River Drills Near Caribbean

For the first time, Dutch and Colombian marines have conducted an intensive joint training exercise focused on jungle river operations and amphibious warfare in northern Colombia.

The three-week collaboration is part of a growing security partnership aimed at protecting shared interests in the Caribbean, particularly around the key maritime corridors near Aruba and Curaçao.

During the drills, marines from both nations exchanged operational knowledge on navigating dense jungle terrain and coordinating ship-to-shore maneuvers. The exercise reflects increasing concern over drug trafficking routes used by Colombian gangs to move cocaine through the Caribbean.

The Colombian marine corps, known as Infantería de Marina, brought critical combat experience to the table, gained through ongoing operations against rebel groups and organized crime. Dutch forces gained exposure to unfamiliar and challenging terrain conditions, which could prove vital in future missions.

Support for the exercise was provided by the Dutch naval vessel Zr.Ms. Pelikaan, a logistics support ship that played a key role in testing war-readiness. “By increasing the pressure, we find out where our limits are and what we need to work on,” said Lieutenant-at-sea 1 Max Borsboom, the ship’s commander. “For instance, marines brought wounded colleagues aboard the Pelikaan for care—something that hadn’t been done before. We now know we need more crew to manage such situations while keeping the ship operational.”

Both navies see the joint initiative as a crucial step in building regional security networks in the absence of formal alliances like NATO in the Caribbean. Officials from both sides suggest this partnership may expand in scope and frequency to counter rising regional threats, including drug trafficking and maritime instability.