The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the leader of the Dominican Republic, President Luis Abinader, held private talks on Friday, focusing on a range of issues, including human rights, economic prosperity, and regional security. However, the dire situation in violence-plagued Haiti dominated the discussions.
Blinken’s visit to the Dominican Republic followed a stop in Haiti on Thursday, where he pledged support for a UN-backed mission led by Kenya to combat the rampant gangs that have seized control of much of the country. During his meeting with Abinader, Blinken acknowledged the Dominican President’s concerns regarding Haiti, particularly the apparent lack of resources for the UN mission and the influx of Haitian migrants seeking refuge in the Dominican Republic.
Abinader highlighted the strain on his country’s resources due to the escalating crisis in Haiti, citing the challenges posed by thousands of inmates who escaped after gang attacks on Haiti’s two largest prisons earlier this year. He also expressed concern over the overwhelming impact of Haitian migrants on schools and hospitals in the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Republic has faced criticism in recent years for its treatment of Haitian migrants and those born in the country to Haitian parents. The government has taken measures to restrict the flow of migrants, including closing airspace to Haiti and constructing a border wall.
Despite the challenges, Blinken expressed some optimism about the situation in Haiti, noting the positive impact of nearly 400 Kenyan police deployed in recent months to combat the gangs controlling 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. “The foundation for progress in Haiti has to be security,” Blinken emphasized, stating that “This has to be something that the authorities, the state and ultimately the Haitian people control, not the gangs.”
Both Blinken and Abinader emphasized their commitment to normalizing relations between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Blinken underscored the US’s strong interest in helping Haiti achieve stability, recognizing the Dominican Republic’s role as the largest economy in the Caribbean and one of the fastest growing in Latin America.
To further bolster the Dominican Republic’s economic growth, Blinken announced the first phase of a $3 million supply-chain investment through USAID, aimed at enhancing workforce training and establishing industrial parks in the country.
Blinken’s visit to the region came on the heels of his announcement of $45 million in humanitarian assistance for Haiti on Thursday. He also voiced support for the creation of a UN peacekeeping operation in Haiti, advocating for the establishment of a robust framework to secure funding and resources necessary to combat the gangs and restore order to the country.
Blinken is expected to return to the United States later on Friday.
