French Minister of Overseas Territories Naïma Moutchou (left) and Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina (right) display the signed agreements at the ceremony organised at the Cole Bay Police Station on Tuesday. Looking on are Préfet Cyrille Le Vély, Collectivité President Louis Mussington, Justice Minister Nathalie Tackling, and the respective French and Dutch Coast Guard representatives. (DCOMM photo)
PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina and the French Minister of Overseas Territories, Naïma Moutchou, signed the treaty regarding “Hot Pursuit during Maritime Counter Drug Operations in the Vicinity of Saint Martin and Sint Maarten” at the Cole Bay Police Station on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
Present were the Governor of St. Maarten, Ajamu Baly, Minister of Justice Natalie Tackling, the French State representative, Préfet Cyrille Le Vély, and the President of the Collectivité of Saint-Martin, Louis Mussington, among other dignitaries and guests.
Signing of the treaty between Minister Naïma Moutchou (left) and Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina (right) (DCOMM photo)
Justice Minister Nathalie Tackling giving her introduction. (DCOMM photo)
Justice Minister Nathalie Tackling opened the ceremony by welcoming the dignitaries and guests, and reflected on the long history of cooperation between the French and Dutch sides of the island.
She noted that since the signing of the Treaty of Concordia in 1648, two nations have shared one landmass where communities, economies, and cultures have grown together across what is often an invisible border.
The Minister explained that the treaty extends that same spirit of cooperation to the maritime domain, where criminal networks have at times taken advantage of jurisdictional boundaries. She noted that this treaty closes a gap that criminals have too often relied upon.
She also recognised the many professionals and institutions who worked behind the scenes to bring this agreement to fruition and expressed her appreciation to the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard and French maritime authorities, whose daily cooperation at sea gives real meaning to agreements such as this one.
Following remarks by French Minister of Overseas Territories Naïma Moutchou, Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina addressed the gathering and reaffirmed the significance of the moment.
“Today we formalise an important agreement between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of France regarding the mutual right of pursuit during maritime counter-drug operations in the waters surrounding Saint Martin and Sint Maarten,” the Prime Minister stated. “This moment is more than a signing ceremony; it is a clear and powerful statement of cooperation, trust, and shared responsibility.”
Prime Minister Mercelina highlighted the unique nature of the island and the need for close collaboration between both sides.
“Our island is unique in the world, two nations, two systems, two administrations, yet one people living side by side on a single island. That reality brings opportunities, but it also brings responsibilities. When it comes to protecting our borders, safeguarding our communities, and combating transborder crime, cooperation is not optional; it is essential.”
The Prime Minister explained that the agreement strengthens the legal framework that allows authorities to act decisively at sea.
“This treaty equips the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard and the French Maritime Authority with the necessary legal instruments to pursue vessels engaged in illegal activities across maritime boundaries when circumstances demand it,” he said. “In practical terms, criminals who attempt to exploit jurisdictional boundaries will no longer find refuge in the waters between our two territories.
“Our law enforcement partners will now have enhanced capacity to prevent, investigate, and prosecute violations of national laws, particularly those related to maritime drug trafficking.”
Mercelina also noted that drug trafficking has far-reaching consequences for communities.
“Drug trafficking is not simply a maritime issue. It threatens our youth, destabilises our communities, and undermines the safety and prosperity that our people deserve. By strengthening our maritime cooperation, we strengthen the security of our island.”
He further emphasised that the treaty closes operational gaps that criminals have previously attempted to exploit.
“In essence, today we are closing procedural gaps that criminals once tried to exploit,” he stated.
For the French Maritime Authority, Capitaine de Fregate Frederic Ollive gave a short speech, then handed over to his counterpart to expound on the current situation of the Dutch Coast Guard of St. Maarten, Kapitein Ing. Randy Paskel.
Prime Minister Mercelina expressed his pride in how both sides formalised an agreement in a clear and powerful statement of cooperation, trust, and shared responsibility. He said that through two nations, two administrations, this reality brings opportunity as well as responsibility to protect borders and stop transborder crime.
“This legal framework provides both the Dutch and French maritime authorities with legal instruments to pursue criminal activities across maritime borders. Combating criminal activity is not just a drug issue, but it also affects our community. So this agreement strengthens our community,” he emphasised.
After his speech, the signing of agreement documents between Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina and French Minister of Overseas Territories, Naïma Moutchou, took place as witnesses looked on. A toast was then occasioned to animate the signing.
The treaty establishes legal cooperation between the two maritime authorities. Signatories have permission to enter/go after each other’s territorial sea during their patrols to conduct surveillance operations, exchange operational information related to drug and other forms of trafficking in their jurisdictions.
The region, SXM strategic location, remains a point of transit of narcotics and weapons moving from South America toward North America and Europe, requiring constant surveillance and high-speed interception capabilities. There are continued maritime counter-drug/illegal activities operations taking place with high-speed chases of Go-fast vessels. The aim is to stop smuggling, particularly of cocaine and marijuana and guns/weapons.
