Military of Aruba

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Defense of Aruba is handled by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Netherlands’ armed forces on Aruba include the Royal Netherlands Navy, the Netherlands Marine Corps, and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard. There is also a small local militia called ARUMIL (Aruban Militia), about a platoon strong, based at the Marine Barracks in Savaneta. ARUMIL, together with Curaçao’s military CURMIL, is part of the Caribbean military group known as CARMIL.

History shows Aruba’s forces grew from near nothing to a more organized defense. In 1929, Venezuelan rebel Rafael Simón Urbina attacked Curaçao and took hostages, including the governor and the garrison commander. Three Dutch soldiers were killed. After this, the Dutch government stationed a permanent naval ship in the Antilles and formed volunteer corps for Curaçao (VKC) and Aruba (VKA). After World War II, VKC and VKA became the Antiliaanse Militie (ANTMIL) on Curaçao. When Aruba became autonomous within the Kingdom in 1986, ARUMIL was formed for Aruba.

World War II made Aruba strategically important because of the Lago oil refinery. About 180 French marines arrived to help, followed by British troops, the 4th Battalion Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, and later Dutch East Indies Army artillery. Military service became compulsory, and troops stayed near the refinery at Savaneta. In early 1942, more than 1,000 American soldiers arrived. Dutch coastal batteries on Aruba and Curaçao fought against German U-boats during attacks in February 1942 and the bombardment of Curaçao, and a Curaçao battery later engaged another U-boat, though none of the batteries hit their targets.

Today the Netherlands Armed Forces deploy ground and naval units in the Caribbean, with some based on Aruba. The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard operates under the Royal Netherlands Navy’s Caribbean commander. ARUMIL soldiers are volunteers, led by their own NCOs and officers, and are trained by the Netherlands Marine Corps. After basic training, ARUMIL members become Aruban Marines. Training starts in Aruba, with further training in the Netherlands or Curaçao. ARUMIL officers complete the regular Netherlands Marine Corps Officers course. ARUMIL works closely with the Dutch Marines on Aruba. The 32nd Raiding Squadron also conducts training on Aruba, sometimes with U.S. Marines. Growing instability in parts of South America, especially Venezuela, has led the Netherlands to heighten security and monitoring of Aruba in cooperation with the United States.