United States Ambassador Leah Francis Campos has cleared any doubt that she would be a headline maker in the Dominican Republic. The first public remarks of Leah Francis Campos was music for the ears of Dominicans when she spoke of support to the heavy burden Haiti represents to the Dominican Republic. She mentioned the past Biden administration had pressured the Dominican Republic to take on more migration to mitigate the multidimensional crisis in Haiti. Notwithstanding, she also put the ball in the court of Dominican officials, urging the country to follow the actions of Argentina and El Salvador in seeking a bilateral trade agreement with the United States.
The newly arrived US Ambassador Leah Frances Campos underscored the deep synergy between US and Dominican priorities, arguing that collaboration between the two nations is a shared success that simultaneously serves the interests of both countries. She made her first public remarks speaking at the December luncheon of the American Chamber of Commerce on 2 December 2025. A US ambassador has traditionally been the guest speaker for the Thanksgiving luncheon. The ambassador presented her letters of credence to President Luis Abinader on 19 November 2025.
During her remarks for the December luncheon, the diplomat said her term would center on three key pillars: security, strength, and prosperity. “Together, we have worked to expand cooperation on security, strengthen education, and improve public health,” the official stated. “When we stand united, we both become stronger… Therefore, the work we do together is literally ‘America First’ and ‘the Dominican Republic First’ at the same time.”
The diplomat further emphasized mutual respect as the foundation of the partnership. “That is to say, we fully respect and celebrate the Dominican Republic putting the Dominican Republic first,” the official continued. “This is how true partners and friends operate: by respecting each other’s sovereignty, values, and priorities.”
During her remarks, she delved into how the administration of President Joe Biden exerted political pressure on the Dominican Republic to maintain open borders with Haiti, as reported in Listin Diario.
Speaking at a luncheon hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (AMCHAMDR), Campos indicated that the pressure stemmed from the influx of undocumented citizens arriving in the United States. She described many of these arrivals as “delinquents or those who had no interest in being part of the United States and what our nation and our values represent.”
“This also translated into political pressure on Dominican authorities by the Biden administration to keep their border with Haiti open rather than closing it,” Campos stated.
The ambassador spoke of her commitment to work as part of the US government for the stabilizing of Haiti. She pledged to work on solutions for returning stability to the neighboring country, an issue she plans to discuss with President Luis Abinader and the private sector.
“Instability in Haiti represents a threat to the security of the Dominican Republic and also to the United States,” Campos explained. “I commit to addressing this issue with President Abinader and the private sector to find solutions that mitigate the threat and help stabilize Haiti. The goal would be for Haitians to live and enjoy their country—one that is peaceful and safe, which they also deserve.”
The ambassador asserted that Haiti poses a threat not only to the Dominican Republic but also to the United States. In response, she pledged the US would be part of the solution and committed to establishing a dialogue with President Luis Abinader to seek alternatives for addressing the issue, as reported in El Dia.
Campos said she has close knowledge of the critical importance of border security and how borders can indeed present a threat to a country’s stability, noting that the United States has experienced similar situations.
She emphasized that economic security and national security are intertwined and complementary, and both are among the core priorities of the Trump administration.
Campos also thanked President Abinader for the Dominican Republic’s efforts in combating drug trafficking, money laundering, and improving actions to prevent human trafficking. President Luis Abinader last week announced agreeing to the use of the Las Americas International and the San Isidro Air Force airports on a request-by-request base.
Furthermore, the US ambassador reaffirmed the US commitment to ensuring a stable business environment. “Our commitment to ensuring that US companies and their employees operate in a predictable, transparent, and rule-of-law-based environment is firm,” she said. “We welcome the Dominican Republic’s efforts to strengthen institutions and improve regulatory efficiency, efforts that help attract high-quality investment from the United States.”
The ambassador spoke of her support to nearshoring and the efforts to bring semiconductor manufacturing to the Dominican Republic. She said it is an ideal moment to expand economic, technological and logistic alliances. She says the focus needs to be on quality jobs, innovation and increased competitiveness for both countries, as reported in El Nacional.
Campos motivated the country to participate in more meetings with the White House to achieve a bilateral trade agreement as El Salvador and Argentina have already signed.
Ambassador Campos also announced she would visit Central Romana, the country’s main sugar supplier to the United States. During the Biden administration, the company was impeded to export sugar directly to the United States.
Emphasizing her approach to trade relations, Campos concluded with a firm stance: “Under the Trump Administration and throughout my mission as ambassador, I do not intend to allow the politicization of commercial matters from the embassy, nor will I permit false insinuations or accusations to satisfy an activist and political sector within the United States.”
The remarks were rendered to the membership of the American Chamber of Commerce. First Lady Raquel Arbaje represented President Luis Abinader. Also attending the luncheon were Minister of Foreign Relations Roberto Alvarez and Minister of Industry and Commerce Victor Bisono.
The ambassador’s outspoken remarks come at a time when there is a marked shift and the United States government is now taking steps to focus on the Americas, included the Caribbean, after decades of negligence.
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3 December 2025