The Ministry of Defense has three branches: the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Acento looks into what the Ministry of Defense does with its budget.
As reported in Acento, by far the largest component of the ministry is the Army (ERD) and most of its energy is spent patrolling the border with Haiti.
The Navy and Air Force direct most of their efforts towards patrols of the territorial waters looking for drug smugglers from Colombia and Venezuela and the illegal attempts to reach Puerto Rico via small boats.
Back in 2017, the budget for the Ministry of Defense was RD$23.5 billion, and in the 2024 budget, the ministry will receive RD$58.3 billion.
According to sources inside the Ministry of Defense, the increase in expenditures has enabled the armed forces to modernize equipment, train personnel and further guarantee the defense, sovereignty, and security of the Dominican Republic.
Further justification for the almost 5% yearly budget increase is the creating of new units and better pay for the officers and enlisted personnel.
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Acento
26 February 2024