The Trump Administration has just suspended USAID programs funding and contributions to the multilateral security forces in Haiti.
Former Dominican Central Bank governor, historian and former DR ambassador to the United States, Bernardo Vega writes in Acento telling what the DR should ask of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio when he visits on 5 to 6 February 2025 as part of his first tour abroad that is taking him to Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.
In Acento, he writes:
“Tomorrow, US Senator Marco Rubio, the newly appointed US Secretary of State, will arrive in the Dominican Republic as part of a diplomatic tour covering four Central American nations, including ours.
“What should the Dominican President and foreign minister address during their meeting with Rubio?
“While it may seem unconventional, the primary topic should be the ongoing Haitian crisis. The UN mission, led by Kenyan troops, has been unable to dismantle the gangs that control 80% of Port-au-Prince, and were responsible for over 5,000 murders last year, forcing 600,000 Haitians to flee their homes. Given the veto power of Russia and China, it’s unlikely the UN Security Council can resolve this issue. Moreover, with the US government under Trump unlikely to send American troops to Haiti, a more viable solution could involve the US providing financial resources to the Haitian government, allowing them to hire American mercenaries. These mercenaries could operate as special forces with US logistical and intelligence support, including drones, to eliminate the gangs. Several private military companies in the US have the expertise to undertake such missions.
“Sending undocumented Haitians from the US to Haiti without first resolving the gang violence would be highly immoral, as it would expose them to extreme danger. Many of these individuals are there under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, meaning several thousand could face deportation. As the TPS for Honduras is set to expire in a few months, many may attempt to cross into the Dominican Republic, worsening our own national situation. President Trump has announced plans to send 30,000 undocumented migrants to Guantanamo, focusing on the most dangerous criminals to avoid creating further instability in their home countries.
“Another key bilateral issue between the US and the Dominican Republic is the deportation of undocumented Dominicans living in the US. An estimated 190,000 Dominicans are in the US without papers, whether having crossed by boat or from Mexico, or overstayed their tourist visas. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has already identified over 12,000 undocumented Dominicans with criminal records, ready for deportation. There is considerable buzz around raids, which aim to encourage voluntary departures and discourage new arrivals. If these deportations involve military aircraft, it would make sense for the flights to land at the San Isidro airbase in the Dominican Republic. The economic impact of such a large return would likely lead to more unemployment and reduced remittances, a negative consequence for the Dominican economy. Given that the number of deportees may surpass those returned in recent years, the government should consider a contingency plan to handle the influx and resettle so many people.
“The issue of rice imports is another pressing concern. The Dominican government has found a solution to the obligation under DR-CAFTA to allow unrestricted rice imports by 2025, but a response from the US is expected, and this topic should be part of discussions with Rubio.
“The US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization (WHO) has also affected us. Our beaches are already suffering from global environmental degradation, and the world faces the threat of new pandemics. Without the US, the WHO would be significantly weakened, increasingly dependent on China, whose vaccines were the ones we used during the Covid-19 pandemic after the US blocked the export of its own.
“Two additional topics of interest for the US are the fight against drug trafficking and relations with China. On both of these issues, Rubio will likely have to acknowledge that the Dominican Republic has handled them well. Unlike many South American nations, we have kept investments and debt with China at a manageable level.
“Finally, we should invite President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, and US business leaders to attend the 10th Summit of the Americas, which will take place in the Dominican Republic this December.”
Read more in Spanish:
Acento
5 February 2025