The Secretary of War of the USA, Pete Hegsethresponded yesterday to the announcement of the president Luis Abinader on the temporary authorization for US logistical operations in Dominican territory with a frontal speech, loaded with warnings against “narcoterrorists“that operate in the region and with a marked recognition of the leadership of the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean.
Speaking immediately after the president, Hegseth openly praised the leadership of the president Abinader and said that Dominican Republic He has become “a regional leader willing to take on difficult challenges,” which is why Washington decided that Santo Domingo would be the first stop on its hemispheric agenda. “We recognize the leadership of your president and of this country. “That’s why we came here first,” he said.
The official described the bilateral relationship like “a great association” and as “a model for the region” in the fight against organized crime. He assured that USA deeply values the firmness of the Dominican position on border security issues and cooperation regional, especially with regard to the haitian crisiswhere—he said—the Dominican Republic has assumed a leadership role that Washington views with respect.
A warning without nuances to the cartels
The focus of his intervention was a direct warningunambiguously, to the criminal networks that have been designated by the Trump administration as terrorist organizations foreigners. Hegseth stated that USA It has sufficient intelligence, legal structure and operational capacity to identify and pursue each node of these organizations.
“We must face the narcoterrorists with strength and with hard action. It is the only language they understand,” he said. And he added:
“We are willing to go on the offensive in a way that changes the dynamic to the entire region“.
The secretary insisted that coordination with Dominican Republic will save “hundreds of thousands of lives” in both countries, by reducing violence associated with drug trafficking and preventing cartels from continuing to use the Caribbean as a strategic corridor.
“A small, temporary framework, fully respecting its sovereignty and its laws and all the dynamics here in the Dominican Republic. It is a great partnership and really a joint effort between our two countries against drug trafficking and narcoterrorism. I think it is a model for the region, a model that we hope to build with other countries that want to close their backs and arms with us…”
Support for temporary deployment in Dominican territory
Hegseth explicitly thanked Abinader’s decision to authorize for a limited time the operation of US aircraft and support personnel linked to the Operation Southern Lance He stressed that everything will be carried out under a “small, temporary and fully respectful of Dominican sovereignty and laws” framework.
“This cooperation It is not just what you need or what we need, but what we can do together, aggressively, using the assets and advantages that both nations we have,” he said.
Ideological tone and religious emphasis
The secretary also wove his message with references to the christian faithto the religious origins of USA and the symbolism of the Dominican flag. He affirmed that both countries share “moral and spiritual” values and that this joint effort must be undertaken “with a called to God“.
Hegseth He concluded by reiterating that USA will be “beside” of the president Abinader in the offensive against the cartels. “We are ready to face this challenge and defeat this threat. God bless your wonderful country,” he said.
The delegation that accompanied Hegseth
- Leah F. CamposUnited States ambassador to the Dominican Republic.
- Ricky Buriaadvisor to the United States War Department.
- Patrick Weaveradvisor to the War Department
- Tammy RadabaughDeputy Assistant to the Secretary of War of the United States.
- Joseph HumireUnited States Under Secretary of War.
- Matthew Haydar, advisor to the United States War Departments.
Companions of the president Abinader
- Raquel Arbaje, first lady of the Republic
- José Ignacio PalizaMinister of the Presidency
- Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre, defense minister
- Roberto AlvarezMinister of Foreign Affairs.
- Faride RafulMinister of the Interior and Police.
- José Manuel Cabrera Ulloapresident of the National Drug Control Directorate.
The Secretary of War of the United States, Pete Hegseth, stated yesterday that the meetings held with President Luis Abinader and the Minister of Defense were “very productive”, focused on strengthening joint actions against drug trafficking in the Caribbean and throughout the Western Hemisphere.
Upon leaving the meeting, Hegseth began his statement with an unexpected announcement: he reported that two members of the US National Guard were killed in Washington, DC, in an attack that he described as “desperate” and directed against “the best of America.” He noted that the event occurred “a few steps from the White House” and that it will only serve to “strengthen the resolve” of the US Government in the face of crime.
He announced that, at the direction of President Donald Trump, he will ask the Secretary of the Army to send 500 additional National Guard troops to the US capital. “We will never return.”
Hegseth asked for “prayers for the National Guard and their families” and stressed the role of faith in sustaining the American people.
Regarding his visit to the DR, Hegseth affirmed that the US works in full coordination with the Dominican Government to “persecute narcoterrorists” operating in the region.
“Crime has no borders. Whether in Washington, the Caribbean or anywhere in the Western Hemisphere, we are going to look for them and they will not be able to hide,” he declared.
The official supported Abinader’s decision to temporarily expand air and maritime cooperation to strengthen surveillance against drug trafficking. Previously, the president announced that, under agreements signed in 1995 and 2003, the United States will be able to use restricted areas of the San Isidro Air Base and the Las Américas International Airport for a limited time for logistical operations of resupply, transportation of equipment and technical personnel, always under Dominican supervision.
Planes
The Presidency reported that several KC-135 tanker aircraft will come to the country to support air patrol missions, provide refueling services, and C-130 Hercules aircraft, a cargo aircraft with versatile operational functions, including aeromedical evacuations, firefighting, meteorological reconnaissance and disaster assistance.
military exercises
As revealed yesterday by the United States Air Force, American B-52H bomber aircraft carried out attack demonstrations this week in the Caribbean. “B-52H long-range bombers from @TeamMinot (Minot Air Base) conducted a bomber attack demonstration in the Caribbean Sea in support of Operation Southern Lance, bringing security and hemispheric stability, on November 24,” the Air Force’s southern division posted on its social networks.
