Dominican Republic President Abinader announced on the 26th that the Dominican side will allow the United States to use restricted areas of the San Isidro Air Base and the Americas International Airport within its territory to assist in 'combating drug trafficking'.
Abinader met with visiting US Secretary of War Hegseth at the presidential palace. Afterwards, the two jointly held a press conference.
Abinader stated that the Dominican side has reached an agreement with the US side to expand cooperation in order to strengthen 'anti-narcotics surveillance' in maritime and aerial domains.
Hegseth claimed that this move is aimed at enhancing the Caribbean region's ability to monitor and combat transnational criminal activities. He stated that the US views the Dominican Republic as an important security partner in the region, and that the two sides' anti-drug cooperation serves as a 'regional model'. The US hopes to promote this model to more countries.
According to a news bulletin issued by the Dominican presidency on the same day, the United States Southern Command and the US Air Force will provide the Dominican Republic with equipment such as KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft and C-130 transport aircraft, to be used for maritime and aerial surveillance, smuggling interception, medical transfer, and disaster relief.
Hegseth's visit comes as the US continues to expand its military presence in the Caribbean. Since early September, US forces have sunk more than 20 so-called 'drug trafficking boats' in the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific, resulting in more than 80 deaths. The US has also deployed the 'Ford' aircraft carrier strike group in the Caribbean, amassing over 15,000 troops, more than ten warships, and over a hundred aircraft—a scale rarely seen in decades.