*By Génesis García and Joan Vargas
Santo Domingo.-Chancellor Roberto Álvarez reported that President Luis Abinader received a formal invitation from his United States counterpart, Donald Trump, to participate in a summit of presidents to be held on March 7 in the city of Miami.
“Indeed, yesterday the formal invitation was received to the president to attend this mini-summit or mini-meeting with President Trump,” said the chancellor, highlighting that the bilateral relationship between both countries “continues absolutely normal.”
He added that, although information circulated about the North American president’s invitation to some presidents in the region, no other country had received formal communication.
In addition to President Abinader, Javier Milei (Argentina), Rodrigo Paz (Bolivia), Daniel Noboa (Ecuador), Nayib Bukele (El Salvador), Nasry Asfura (Honduras) and Santiago Peña (Paraguay) will participate in the summit.
Privileged relationship
The minister stressed that the Dominican Republic maintains a privileged relationship with Washington, giving as an example the recent invitation to a mini-summit on critical minerals, where 55 nations participated, of which only six or seven were Latin American.
“It is a privileged relationship, both because of the trust that exists in the Dominican authorities and because of the culture and the known presence of the Dominican diaspora in the United States,” he said.
As an example of this, he recalled that among the countries in the region summoned were Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Foreign policy
When asked about a possible reactivation of relations between the United States and Cuba, the chancellor explained that the Dominican foreign policy strategy highlights the commitment to democracy, respect between States and the interest in maintaining stable diplomatic relations even with governments with which there are ideological differences.
He reiterated that one of the pillars of Dominican diplomacy is the promotion of democratic principles, as well as respect for free elections, alternation of power and democratic opposition, values that, according to him, distinguish the country as a benchmark in the Caribbean region.
“We believe in elections, in a democratic opposition, we believe in the alternation between power. That is fundamental… Today the Dominican Republic is shown as one of the democratic models in the region and that is a source of pride,” said Álvarez.
In this context, the head of Mirex assured that, although the Government does not share the Cuban political model, it maintains the approach of interacting with States based on bilateral interests and mutual respect, without this implying support for specific political systems. He emphasized not believing in foreign policy that seeks to cause suffering to the population or support sanctions that directly affect citizens.
Furthermore, he stressed that relations between States should not be broken by disagreements over political systems. He recalled that, even with governments with which there are ideological confrontations, as occurred with Venezuela, diplomatic and consular exchange can be maintained and, in some cases, continue open as a means of dialogue.
Summit of the Americas
Álvarez affirmed that the circumstances of the hemisphere have not changed to have, until now, a date for the celebration of the Summit of the Americas.
He added that the date has not been decided either due to other international commitments on the agenda, such as the commemoration of the bicentennial of the Amphictyonic Congress convened by Simón Bolívar in 1826, which will be celebrated this year in Panama with the participation of leaders from the continent.
Regarding the chacabanas that would be used in the summit scheduled to be held in December of last year, the minister assured that “they are stored.” “I have wanted to use some and the chief of protocol warned me not to dare,” Álvarez joked.
Diplomacy
— Called
The chancellor urged professionals interested in being part of the diplomatic career to apply in the public competition that will be held through INESDYC.
Conditions drive change in Haiti
Reaction. Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez affirmed that Haiti currently has a favorable political environment at the international level that could facilitate an institutional transformation, in the midst of the prolonged crisis it is going through.
Álvarez pointed out that an example of this support was the adoption of Resolution 27-93 of the United Nations Security Council, of September 2025, which authorized the deployment of a multinational security support mission to counter gang violence in Haitian territory.
However, the official explained that it is difficult to offer a concrete answer about the levels of hunger, displacement and violence in Haiti, due to the complexity of the scenario.
