In a high-stakes day for regional security and binational development, senior United States diplomats and Dominican government officials met on Monday, 16 March 2026 in the Dajabon border area, to finalize preparations for an international force in Haiti and to evaluate the economic impact of the CODEVI industrial park.
Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez led the official meeting to review the status of the international support force tasked with dismantling the gangs that have destabilized Haiti. According to the Foreign Minister, the deployment of this new anti-gang force, authorized by the UN Security Council on 30 September of last year, is scheduled to begin on 1 April 2026.
Minister Álvarez emphasized that the meeting was strictly a bilateral consultation between Dominican officials and US diplomats from the embassies in both Santo Domingo and Port-au-Prince; no Haitian authorities were present. The session served as a progress report from the United States, a primary actor in the deployment process. Álvarez noted that this mission is the culmination of years of advocacy by President Luis Abinader, who has called for international intervention in Haiti since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.
Economy: CODEVI seen as a stabilizing model
Parallel to the security discussions, the US delegation visited the facilities of the Compagnie de Développement Industriel (CODEVI). The visiting group included the US Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Leah F. Campos, the US Chargé d’Affaires in Haiti, Henry T. Wooster, and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti, Barbara Feinstein.
The delegation was received by top executives of the firm, including Fernando Capellán and Mercedes Capellán de Lama. During the tour, the diplomats highlighted CODEVI’s role as a successful model of binational cooperation that fosters regional stability through job creation. The discussions focused on the HOPE/HELP trade acts that were extended through 31 December 2026, which remain essential for maintaining investment and economic growth in the border region. The delegation toured manufacturing operations and social service centers (including medical clinics and nurseries) provided by the company to its binational workforce. CODEVI representatives outlined plans for diversifying production to mitigate the effects of poverty and regional insecurity.
For the Dominican Republic, the success of this mission is not just about Haitian peace; it is about protecting the Dominican GDP. The border represents a vital export market for Dominican agro-industrial products. If the 1 April deployment succeeds in creating a “security buffer,” it will allow the Dominican government to pivot from a posture of “border defense” to one of “regulated trade expansion.”
The new deployment envisions transitioning from the Kenya-led MSS mission to a UN-authorized Gang Supression Force (GSF) set to reach 5,550 personnel (5,500 uniformed military/police and 50 civilians.
The mission is overseen by a “Standing Group of Partners” comprising Canada, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Kenya, The Bahamas, and the United States military.
South African Jack Christofides, a veteran of UN peace operations, has been named the GSF Special Representative. He recently met with Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez to coordinate logistics.
While the United States is not leading with infantry, it is providing the “financial and logistical muscle,” including intelligence sharing, airlift capabilities, and medical support through US Southern Command.
Unlike the previous mission, which was limited to supporting the Haitian National Police (HNP), the GSF has an offensive mandate. The personnel is authorized to conduct “intelligence-led targeted counter-gang operations” to neutralize and isolate gangs independently or in coordination with the Haitian Armed Forces.
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El Nuevo Diario
El Nuevo Diario
El Nuevo Diario
17 March 2026