Since 12 June 2023, Tom Perez is serving as senior advisor to the president and director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. He was in the Dominican Republic on 9 January 2024 and met with President Luis Abinader. The US Embassy said the talks focused on the climate crisis, security and development issues. The meeting is a follow up to the visit of Abinader to Washington, where he met with US President Joe Biden and the Haiti issue was discussed.
As reported, Tom Perez also visited Montecristi province on the border with Haiti, where US-Dominican investors are building a major port. When the Dominican Republic signed for diplomatic relations with China over Taiwan, the Chinese had intended to build a major port in Manzanillo, Montecristi. This was objected by the US government resulting in the venture that is now under construction in Montecristi.
The US Embassy said that the visit is aimed to continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation between both nations and discuss common priorities.
Pérez is accompanied by Juan González, special assistant to the US President and senior director for the Western Hemisphere at the National Security Council.
Born in the US to two Dominican immigrants, Perez served as Labor Secretary during the Obama government.
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10 January 2024