The Dominican Republic announced on Wednesday that it will allow the United States the use of a air base and an airport as part of its controversial operations against alleged drug traffickers which have killed more than 80 people to date.
The announcement came during a visit by the US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegsethto Santo Domingo, at a time when the United States seeks to increase pressure on the Venezuelan leftist leader Nicolás Maduro, whom Washington accuses of leading a drug cartel.
“We have authorized the United States, for a limited time, to use restricted areas at the San Isidro Air Base and the Las Américas International Airport for aircraft logistics operations.”, including refueling and transporting equipment and personnel, declared President Luis Abinader at a press conference.
Hegseth, who spoke alongside the Dominican leader, confirmed the “temporary deployment of US military and aircraft,” stating that Washington takes the anti-narcotics mission very seriously.
“In waging this war against narcoterrorists, we are willing to go on the offensive in a way that changes the dynamics of the entire region and we believe can provide security, stability and protection for our partners,” Hegseth stated.
“We must confront narcoterrorists and their illegal activities with force and speed. It is the only language they understand,” he added.
Hegseth landed on the Las Americas International Airport shortly before noon and was received by representatives of the Executive Branch. According to official sources, he had an initial meeting with US diplomatic personnel on the aircraft itself before moving to the National Palacewhere he was received by the president Luis Abinader.
The Dominican president had confirmed the visit on Monday, when he stated: “We continue working with the United States, because this is a strong fight and some countries have increased cocaine production”.
The meeting with Abinader was scheduled for 2:30 p.m., local time, at the Green Roomalthough the duration of the meeting was not disclosed. The topics they discussed included strategies for stopping drug trafficking, strengthening joint operations and expanding security assistance programs.
The arrival of the Secretary of Defense occurs in the midst of tensions with the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. In recent months, Washington has increased its military deployment in the Caribbean Sea, especially in areas close to the Venezuelan maritime border.
The United States maintains that an organization identified by its agencies as the “Poster of the Suns”, which, according to their reports, facilitates the shipment of drug shipments towards North America. Since August, US naval and air units have intercepted speedboats that, according to federal officials, set sail from Venezuelan coasts with illicit shipments.
Hegseth’s trip is also part of a series of recent contacts between the Dominican Republic and the United States. Last week, President Abinader received a delegation of nnine US congressmen headed by Brian Mastpresident of House Foreign Affairs Committee.
At that meeting, issues related to regional security and joint measures to confront drug trafficking were discussed. The Dominican Presidency indicated that both parties reviewed information on criminal networks operating in the Caribbean and the impact they have on routes to Central America and the United States.
Since the beginning of Donald Trump’s mandate in January, the White House sought to reestablish diplomatic spaces with the Dominican Republic. Washington sent a new ambassador, Leah Camposwho presented his credentials in November and assumed an active role in the bilateral agenda. This visit by Hegseth is in addition to the one made in February by the Secretary of State, Marco Rubiowho also met with Abinader during a stopover in Santo Domingo.
Security cooperation has become a key point within the bilateral relationship, even as the Dominican Republic faces internal cases related to drug trafficking involving political figures.
In the last five years, several leaders of the Modern Revolutionary Party They were prosecuted in the United States. One of the most recent episodes is that of councilor Edition Herrera Silvestre, who admitted before the federal justice system his participation in the drug shipment and awaits sentence. Former deputy Miguel Gutiérrez, detained in Miami on similar charges, was also convicted. Despite this, these events did not alter the rapprochement between the governments of both countries.
The US interest in consolidating alliances in the Caribbean responds to a series of factors. Illicit trafficking increased on maritime routes used by organizations operating from South America. At the same time, Washington closely observes the presence of extra-regional actors in the area, such as China and Iranwhich led the Pentagon to reinforce its diplomatic and operational activity.
For the Dominican Republic, Hegseth’s visit represents an opportunity to ensure greater support in maritime and air interdiction operations. Abinader’s administration maintains that the country is part of one of the routes most used by criminal networks that seek to transfer shipments to the United States.
Dominican authorities consider that coordination with Washington is essential to reduce the flow of vessels crossing the Mona Channel and other areas of the central Caribbean.
