Coinciding with the arrival of China Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the newly-arrived US Ambassador Robin Bernstein hosted Dominican Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas and other guests at the US Embassy on Thursday, 21 September 2018. The ambassador had just returned after being summoned back to the US hardly a day after presenting credentials. The convening of the ambassadors to the Dominican Republic, Panama and El Salvador happened after El Salvador announced it was signing for full diplomatic relations with China.
Speaking at the event, Bernstein addressed the matter, explaining: “My recall was a strong gesture on behalf of my government that underscores how seriously we take the happenings of this hemisphere. My conversations last week were focused on what the United States can do to support strong, independent, democratic institutions and economies in this region to promote transparency and the rule of law. The reality is that our relationship with the region has matured. Our assistance has moved from the infrastructure projects of the 20th century to capacity building, citizen security, and economic growth.”
The ambassador emphasized: “We absolutely respect your sovereign right to determine your relationships but we hope that those decisions are being made with a clear eye toward the future and recognizing how those decisions affect your partners, your people, and your sovereignty.”
Speaking at the event, she again focused on the shared priorities. She highlighted that education, citizen security, commerce and disaster preparedness are at the top of the US Embassy’s priority list for collaboration. She said: “These ties mean that we must also work together to confront the shared challenges of transnational crime, natural disasters and disaster preparedness, and health and humanitarian assistance. We must work together to confront these challenges that cross borders and can destroy lives. I will work to safeguard and protect the safety and health of our citizens in both countries.”
The United States is the Dominican Republic’s leading trading partner, and the leading importer of Dominican goods. The US is also the leading source of travelers to the Dominican Republic. Likewise, the largest amount of remittances comes from Dominicans living in the United States.
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US Embassy
25 September 2018
