President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic announced on Monday a temporary agreement granting US personnel access to restricted areas within Dominican airports for anti-narcotics operations is scheduled to expire in April 2026.

The agreement forms a key component of a wider, increasingly⁤ assertive US counternarcotics strategy throughout the Caribbean region. US⁣ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has expressed a desire to broaden this cooperative framework to include additional nations.

During his regular weekly press conference,President Abinader clarified that the agreement specifically encompasses the restricted zones of Las Américas International Airport and the San Isidro air base. He emphasized the logistical nature of the activities, stating they facilitate refueling and equipment transport for US aircraft supporting regional missions -‍ and are not related to⁢ military conflict.

The agreement was formalized last week ⁤during ‌Secretary hegseth’s visit to the Dominican Republic. Hegseth characterized the collaboration as a “model” ‍for potential expansion to ⁣other⁤ countries seeking to combat drug trafficking.

Abinader explained that this agreement represents a continuation of existing bilateral anti-drug efforts, tracing back⁢ to frameworks established in 1995⁣ and 2003. He‍ stated, “this ⁤is going to help us a lot, together with the⁢ Dominican Navy and with specialized technological information.”

Increased US Caribbean‍ Presence

The United⁢ States ​has demonstrably increased its military and operational presence in the Caribbean in recent months. This heightened activity has included⁤ the use of lethal force against vessels ⁢suspected of drug trafficking, resulting⁤ in reported fatalities, as part of a broader strategy ⁤aimed at increasing pressure on the Venezuelan government.