Venezuela has closed its sea border with the Dutch Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire, a regional marine commander has told news agency Reuters.

The move is stopping boats and aircraft from reaching Venezuela from the three Antillean islands which are just a few kilometres away.

Reuters said the vice admiral did not give a reason for closing the border but points out that Venezuela’s opposition had said they plan to bring humanitarian aid into the country from Curacao.

A spokesman for the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs told broadcaster NOS the Netherlands has not had any formal notification of the closure and is trying to find out more.

The United States and European nations including France, Spain, the UK and the Netherlands have severed diplomatic ties with president Nicolás Maduro after a deadline to hold ‘free and fair’ elections expired last month.

Earlier this week, a European parliament delegation, including Dutch MEP Esther de Lange, was refused entry to Venezuela to observe how medical supplies are reaching people behind the blockade.