Dominican Republic Authorizes U.S. Military Use of โAirports in Drug โWar Escalation
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – The Dominicanโ Republic has unexpectedly authorized the United โคStates to temporarily utilize two of its airports for military โฃoperations, a move signaling โa meaningful โescalationโฃ in the joint effort to combat drug trafficking and organized crimeโ in the โขCaribbean. The agreement,announced this week,allows U.S. forces to use Dominican โair bases as โขstaging grounds for โคcounter-narcotics โคmissions, a progressโฃ lauded by Washington as bolstering regional security.
Thisโฃ decision comes amid increasing U.S. โpressure on cartels operating in โthe Western Hemisphere, โขwhich officials have likened toโ terrorist organizations. The move also reflects aโค deepening securityโข partnership โunder the Trump administration,with the Dominican Republic positioned as a key regional leaderโ in the fight against drug trafficking. The use of Dominican air space is intended to enhance the U.S.’s ability to disrupt the โflow ofโฃ narcotics and dismantle criminal networks,โค perhaps impacting countries throughout theโฃ Americas.
Dominican Republic Defense minister, as quoted by โ Semana, emphasized the commitment to citizen safety andโ regional prosperity, stating, “We are defending our citizens,โข we seek security so that our countries continue to prosper, to put an end to soโ much violence and saveโ tens of thousands of lives.” He further highlighted theโ strengthening alliance with the U.S., noting President Trump’s roleโค in reinforcing โthese โpartnerships.
Theโ U.S.has already engaged in direct action, having reportedly targeted at least 21 vessels suspected of narco-trafficking, resulting in over โ80 fatalities. The Dominican Republic’s authorization of U.S. military access isโค expected to amplify these efforts.
According โto officials, the security of borders is a shared priority. “Oneโ of them is the security of its borders, โขfor us the security of ourโ borders isโข veryโข important, so says Presidentโ Trump, โฃand itโ seems to me that โฃtheyโ should also say itโ here, in this country,” the Defense Minister added. The Dominican Republic’s willingness to โcollaborate underscores the growing regional concern over theโ destabilizing influence of drugโ cartelsโ and the perceivedโฃ need for a more assertive response.
