Upon arriving Monday, 22 September 2025 in the evening to New York City for his participation in the UN General Debate, President Luis Abinader answered press questions.
He clarified that the destruction of a speedboat in a joint operation of the Dominican Navy and the US South Command did not occur in Dominican waters. The operation had been described as in high seas near Beata Island, off the coast of the southwestern Pedernales province. The spokesperson for the Trump administration had praised the Dominican cooperation as an example that the Caribbean backs their new efforts to combat transshipment of drugs through Caribbean waters.
“We have a very tough stance when it comes to drug cartels. In other words, we believe in fighting them aggressively. The US government shares that position, and there was already a press conference where the entire situation was explained. What I do want to clarify is that it did not happen in Dominican territorial waters. That seems to be a misunderstanding by some media outlets,” said Abinader in response to a journalist’s question.
He also said that the decision of the position of the Dominican Republic regarding the recognition of the Palestinian state has yet to be discussed by the Dominican Foreign Relations Council. “This is a decision that has been made by the European community, and we need to discuss it internally,” Abinader said, referring to the countries that have recognized the State of Palestine.
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Diario Libre
DR1 News
23 September 2025