The United States will use two airports in the Dominican Republic “temporarily” as part of its fight against drug trafficking in the region, through Operation Lanza del Sur, President Luis Abinader and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday (11/26/2025) in Santo Domingo.
In the presence of Hegseth, the first US Secretary of War to make an official visit to the country, Abi Nader explained that the Americas International Airport and the San Isidro Military Airport, both in Santo Domingo province, will allocate areas for transporting equipment and technical personnel as part of Washington’s operations in the Caribbean.
Abi Nader did not provide further details about the scope of this cooperation, although he said it fell within the “special permissions” granted to the United States under bilateral security cooperation protocols.
The Dominican government announced Hegseth’s visit at a time when the United States is carrying out a demolition operation against speedboats leaving South America that Donald Trump’s government claims are headed to the United States.
Abinader supports operations in the Caribbean
Abi Nader said: “This battle against drug trafficking is a priority for your administration, because it is a threat that affects national and regional stability. This is necessary to protect our families and maintain stability. No country can confront it without allies.”
Dominican authorities announced the seizure of 1,290 drug packages in two operations carried out this month as part of “Lanza del Sur.”
Hegseth thanked the Dominican government for its cooperation in this regard, and stressed that American measures represent “the only language” that drug traffickers and terrorist organizations understand.
Like Abi Nader, the Pentagon chief said the use of the zones at the two Dominican airports would be “temporary,” thanking Abi Nader for the facilities and recognizing the Dominican Republic as a “regional leader” in the fight against drug trafficking.
He said: “There are many things in common between the United States and the Dominican Republic, one of which is security on their borders. For us, security on our borders is very important. This is what President Trump says, and it seems to me that they should say that here as well, in this country.”
P (efe, AFP)