President Luis Abinader announced the appointment of new ambassadors to key diplomatic posts, as outlined in decree 20-25. The Ministry of Foreign Relations says the appointments align with the Dominican Republic’s Law 630-16 regarding rotation in diplomatic missions.
María Isabel Castillo Báez is designated as the new ambassador to the United States. Castillo, a seasoned diplomat, currently serves as the Dominican ambassador to Mexico. She is a lawyer with studies at Unibe (Santo Domingo, with two masters degrees from Columbia University in New York in international law and intellectual property and Latin American international affairs and economic development. She is the daughter of well-known Dominican corporate lawyer Praxedes Castillo, and began her career working at his law firm before joining Dominican diplomacy.
Juan Bolivar Díaz Santana, a prominent journalist and diplomat, was named to the post of ambassador to Mexico. Previously, he was the Dominican ambassador to Spain.
Tony Raful Tejada, a former culture minister and renowned author, will assume the role of ambassador to Spain. Previously he was the Dominican ambassador in Italy. He is the father of former National District senator and today Minister of Interior & Police Faride Raful.
Rafael Antonio Lantigua Ciriaco, a respected physician and community leader best known for his work at Columbia University’s Presbyterian Hospital, has been appointed as the new ambassador to Italy. In 2018, he became the first recipient of the Premio Internacional al Emigrante Dominicano Oscar De La Renta, the prestigious award established by a decree of the Dominican government to recognize the contributions of notable Dominicans living outside the Dominican Republic.
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Presidency
Ministry of Foreign Relations
Diario Libre
Rafael Lantigua
Maria Isabel Castillo
20 January 2025