US Ambassador Leah F. Campos characterized economic and national security as “two sides of the same coin” during a keynote address to the Santiago Chamber of Commerce and Production on Wednesday, 29 January 2026. The event was attended by Vice President Raquel Peña and leading Santiago businesspeople, including Manuel Estrella and Micalo Bermudez, as reported in El Caribe.
In her first official visit to the second largest city in the country, Campos advocated for a bilateral agenda rooted in sovereignty, border control, and the strengthening of trade and investment.
“America First does not mean America Alone,” Campos concluded, reiterating that the US remains the Dominican Republic’s leading source of foreign direct investment. She pledged that the US Embassy would continue to foster a “practical and non-politicized” economic relationship.
The ambassador pointed to nearshoring and friend-shoring as pivotal opportunities for Santiago, La Vega, and Puerto Plata. These trends, which seek to move supply chains closer to allied nations, position the Cibao region to attract advanced manufacturing, medical device production and high-tech component assembly.
As reported in Diario Libre, highlighting the Cibao region as a primary productive engine for the Dominican Republic, the Ambassador emphasized the area’s robust economic fabric, which spans manufacturing, free trade zones, agro-industry, and logistics.
During her second public speech since assuming her post on 19 November 2025, Ambassador Campos asserted that institutional stability and the rule of law are non-negotiable prerequisites for industrial growth.
“Stability and security are the conditions under which factories operate, investments flow, and employment grows,” Campos stated.
She framed her message within the National Security Strategy of the Trump administration, noting a prioritization of the Western Hemisphere. She explained the strategy focuses on combating transnational crime and drug trafficking, targeting money laundering and strengthening ties with “reliable” regional partners.
Campos explicitly praised the Dominican government’s stance on sovereignty and migration, specifically commending its refusal to join international initiatives that promote “open border” policies.
Addressing the ongoing crisis in Haiti, Campos expressed concern regarding its regional impact but maintained that solutions must pair humanitarian efforts with firm border protection. She welcomed the US House of Representatives’ three-year extension of the Hope/Help trade programs. If implemented correctly, Campos believes these programs could stabilize Haiti’s economy and reduce irregular migration pressure, subsequently benefiting the Dominican Republic’s northern logistics and manufacturing sectors.
During her visit she took time to tour the Centro Leon accompanied by Vice President Raquel Peña where they were hosted by Maria Amalia Leon.
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Presidency
Diario Libre
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El Dia
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El Caribe
29 January 2026