The US Embassy donated eight Jeep J8 vehicles, valued at US$513,536, to the Ministry of Defense. The vehicles will be used to combat trafficking and organized crime.
The US Embassy reports that the donation is in addition to more than US$25 million in assistance provided by the US Department of Defense to the country in the last five years and is part of the cooperation between the Armed Forces and the US Army Southern Command to complement the joint efforts carried out through military exercises on land, air and sea.
Visiting US congressmen Albio Sires, Mark Green and Adriano Espaillat were present for the delivery of the equipment to the Ministry of Defense headquarters on 16 September 2021. Also present was charge d’affairs of the US Embassy, Robert Thomas.
Speaking at the event, Thomas said that the US has donated vessels for coastal patrol, aerial search, rescue and reconnaissance support, and contributed to disaster preparedness and response efforts, and border security and interdiction.
The jeeps were received by the Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Carlos Luciano Díaz Morfa ERD, who thanked the US government for the efforts to broaden cooperation ties with the country.
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17 September 2021