U.S.-Dominican Partnership to Combat International Crime

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – In a significant development for regional security, President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic announced Wednesday that he has authorized the U.S. military to temporarily operate in restricted areas of the country to support efforts against international organized crime and drug trafficking.

Speaking alongside U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, President Abinader confirmed that restricted zones within San Isidro Air Base and Las Américas International Airport can now be used by the Pentagon for aircraft refueling, as well as the transport of equipment and technical personnel.

“This is a decisive reinforcement to prevent the entry of narcotics and strike more forcefully at transnational organized crime,” Abinader said, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the air and maritime protection ring maintained by Dominican armed forces.

The announcement comes amid a series of Pentagon operations targeting drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, with more than 20 such strikes reported since September, resulting in at least 83 deaths.

While this marks the first major military agreement between the Trump administration and the Dominican Republic, details on the duration of U.S. access and the benefits for the Caribbean nation remain limited. At the press conference, no questions were permitted, leaving some aspects of the agreement unclear.

Hegseth praised the Dominican Republic’s cooperation, stressing that the sovereignty of the nation would be respected throughout the operations. “The Dominican Republic has stepped up,” he said.

The deal signals a deeper collaboration between the two nations in the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime, highlighting the strategic importance of the Caribbean in regional security efforts. Analysts suggest that such agreements may pave the way for further U.S. military cooperation in Central America and the Caribbean.