Washington will support Dominican border control, support the fight against crime and explore investments in energy and semiconductors to strengthen the bilateral relationship.
In his first international tour as Secretary of State of the United States, Marco Rubio reaffirmed Washington's commitment to Latin America, putting special emphasis on the immigration crisis, security and economic opportunities in the region.
In Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, the last scale of its journey, the senior official held an encounter with the president of the Caribbean island, Luis Abinader, in which they addressed key issues such as the crisis in Haiti, the fight against drug trafficking and the Cooperation in strategic industries.
In a joint press conference, Rubio made clear his position regarding the migration crisis faced by the Dominican Republic due to instability in Haiti.
“No country in the world can tolerate that and this country cannot be required to accept a massive migration wave,” he said and reiterated that the United States will not ask Santo Domingo to assume a burden that does not correspond to him.
The Secretary of State insisted that the solution must come from Haiti himself and that the international community must do more to pacify the neighboring country, currently dominated largely by armed gangs.
“The first objective is to pacify and end this situation. And at this time the only viable option is the multinational mission led by Kenya, which we will continue to support, ”said Rubio.
For his part, President Abinader supported the US position and reiterated that his government has insisted on the need for an international coordinated response.
“Haiti drowns, while an important part of the international community observes passive from the shore,” he warned, and called on greater financing for the multinational security force operating in the neighboring country.
Cooperation in security and fight against crime
The head of the US agency that manages foreign policy highlighted the advances in bilateral security cooperation and announced the signing of a key agreement to strengthen the fight against organized crime.
“Today we are announcing the signing of an agreement to formalize the presence of a CBP agent (US Customs Office and Protection) in the Dominican Republic, which will work together with the National Police,” he said.
Abinader, on the other hand, detailed the actions that his government has taken to strengthen immigration control and combat transnational crime. Among them, he mentioned the implementation of advanced biometric technology and the hardening of measures against drug trafficking networks.
He also announced the appointment of vice council José Cabrera Ulloa as a new anti -drug tsar in the country. “The impressive record of Cabrera Ulloa endorses it to successfully lead this new fight,” emphasized the Dominican president.
Rubio praised these measures and stressed that the US is committed to expand cooperation programs to strengthen security in the region. “The advances they have achieved in such a short time are impressive and we are willing to continue supporting them with access to advanced technologies and more resources,” he said.
Energy and semiconductors: the economic commitment
Beyond security, Rubio's agenda in the Dominican Republic included a firm commitment to the economic development of the country, with a look towards the energy sector and the semiconductor industry.
The Secretary of State stressed that the strengthening of the Dominican energy sector will not only benefit the Caribbean country, but also to Puerto Rico. “The electricity generation is key for the Dominican Republic to continue advancing, but it can also offer great benefits for Puerto Rico, which is a priority for us,” he said.
In addition, Rubio stressed that the Dominican Republic has the potential to become a key actor in the global semiconductor industry, a crucial sector for modern technology.
“Here is a golden opportunity for this country to become a semiconductor hub, so close to the United States and an environment of stability,” said the official underline that Washington is evaluating new investments to strengthen this industry in the country.
President Abinader agreed with Rubio on the importance of diversifying the economy and promoting investment in strategic sectors. “Our macroeconomic stability, the favorable climate for business and our infrastructure place us in a privileged position to boost innovation,” he said.
Mention to Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua
During his speech in Santo Domingo, the US Secretary of State also referred to the situation in Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, which he described as regimes that have caused suffering to their population and have contributed to instability in the region. Rubio reaffirmed the position of the White House towards these governments, noting that their negative influence extends beyond its borders.
“I do not know otherwise talk about a regime, for example, which has forced almost 8 million of its citizens to leave Venezuela in the last 10 years, which imprisons, torture and murderer,” he said referring to Nicolás Maduro's government and the humanitarian crisis that has caused a massive exodus.
As for Cuba, Rubio highlighted the increase in the repression and constant departure of citizens of the island in search of better living conditions. “More than 10 % of the population has abandoned the country. They are imprisoned at this time to more than 400, 500 people, including children and young people aged 16, 17, because they went out to demonstrate in the streets, ”he denounced, referring to the repressive wave after the protests of July 11, 2021.
On Nicaragua, Rubio was even more forceful in describing Daniel Ortega's regime as a “family dynasty” in which repression has become a government mechanism. “They have imprisoned all opponents, all Nicaraguan presidency candidates were pursued by justice – or the lack of justice – in Nicaragua. They are even deporting nuns, they have declared war on the Catholic Church and all religious, ”he said.
Beyond the internal impact of these regimes, the Secretary of State stressed his contribution to the destabilization of the continent. “They are not only regimes that do that to their own people, but have contributed, the three, to the instability of the region. All countries have had to pay to some extent the price of instability that exists in those countries, ”said Rubio, referring to the migration crisis and the political and economic effects that these governments have generated in their neighbors.
Rubio also warned about the international connections of these regimes, mentioning Venezuela's support for extremist groups and the presence of foreign actors in Cuba. “In the case of Venezuela, which cooperates with Iran, with Hezbollah, with Hamas. In the case of Cuba, which has given shelter to Chinese espionage and Russian presence, ”he said.
Despite its critical diagnosis, Rubio does not expect immediate changes in the political situation of these countries. “That is still my opinion. Now, there is a change in those countries, I do not hope that between today and December it will happen. But that is the way I talk about those regimes, because it is the reality of how they have behaved, ”he argued.
The message for the region
Rubio also referred to the next summit of the Americas, which will be held in December in Punta Cana, highlighting that it will be a key event to strengthen cooperation in the hemisphere.
“We hope to unite all democratic countries in the region to address the challenges and opportunities we face. We not only want to talk about problems, but about real solution solutions, ”he said.
Abinader, on the other hand, insisted that the Dominican Republic is committed to regional leadership and the strengthening of international cooperation. “We maintain a firm will to move towards a more prosperous, safe and equitable Dominican Republic,” he concluded.
Marco Rubio's visit to the Dominican Republic showed that the relationship between the two countries continues to strengthen itself in key issues such as security, economy and migration. Rubio not only reiterated US support for the Caribbean nation, but also stressed the strategic importance of cooperation in high -tech and energy sectors.
“Let's continue advancing together, with vision, determination and with a deep sense of hope in the future,” insisted the Secretary of State, thus sealing a day of key agreements for the alliance between the United States and the Dominican Republic.