Following the Shield of the Americas Summit in Miami, President Luis Abinader outlined the Dominican Republic’s strategic position within this new regional coalition in an interview for El Dia. The initiative, involving 11 other heads of state and the United States, aims to solidify security cooperation across Latin America.
President Abinader affirmed that the Dominican Republic’s role will focus on deepening its existing efforts in regional security and the fight against drug trafficking. “We already maintain a very special role in security matters with intense cooperation; through this program, that collaboration will become even greater,” Abinader stated.
To ensure the initiative’s success, the President announced he will soon appoint a special envoy dedicated exclusively to monitoring and coordinating the program’s progress.
A unified military front against cartels
Latin American and Caribbean heads of government have frequently complained that firearm sales for traffickers, consumption and drug distribution inside the USA have not been tackled. The summit concluded with the signing of a proclamation to create a regional military coalition specifically designed to dismantle drug cartels. Key objectives of the “Shield of the Americas” include:
Coordinated defense: Tackling transnational organized crime and criminal networks operating throughout the hemisphere.
US support: Leveraging United States resources, including advanced technology, specialized consultancy, and intelligence sharing.
System Improvement: Enhancing the internal security infrastructure of the Dominican Republic and its neighbors.
Regional concerns and the Haitian crisis
While the primary focus remains on international criminal networks and human trafficking, Abinader noted that the situation in Haiti remains a critical component of regional protection.
The President highlighted that Haitian gangs are now categorized as terrorist groups by both the Dominican Republic and the United States. The alliance will serve as a platform to coordinate aid and strategies to combat and eventually eliminate these gangs, which are viewed as a significant threat to Caribbean stability.
The official document signed by the heads of government at the Doral summit is titled the “Proclamation on the Shield of the Americas.” It was signed on 7 March 2026 by the leaders of 12 nations, including President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic and US President Donald Trump.
This proclamation serves as the executive commitment to the broader “Americas Counter-Cartel Joint Security Declaration,” which was initially signed by regional defense ministers on 5 March 2026.
Read more:
El Dia
White House
10 March 2026