US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Dominican Republic on Thursday, January 12, 2023, as part of a five-nation tour of Latin America following the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Rubio's visit to the Dominican Republic was the fifth stop on his tour, which also included Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Guatemala. The purpose of the tour was to promote US foreign policy in the region.
Rubio was received at the National Palace by Dominican President Luis Abinader, Vice President Raquel Peña, and Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez. The two leaders held a private meeting in the White Room, followed by a working lunch in the Green Room. The meeting was attended by a delegation of Dominican officials, including the Ministers of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza; Defense, Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre; Industry, Commerce and MSMEs, Víctor Bisonó; Energy and Mines, Joel Santos; the Vice Minister of Multilateral Foreign Policy, Rubén Silié Valdez; and the Director of Strategic Analysis of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Anselmo Muñiz.
Rubio's visit to the Dominican Republic comes at a time when the US is seeking to strengthen its ties with the region in the face of growing Chinese influence. The US has been particularly concerned about China's growing economic and military presence in Latin America, and Rubio's tour is seen as an attempt to counter this trend.
The meeting between Rubio and Abinader focused on a range of issues, including trade, investment, security, and migration. The two leaders also discussed the importance of strengthening democratic institutions in the region and promoting human rights.
The Dominican Republic is a key US ally in the Caribbean region, and the two countries have a long history of cooperation. The meeting between Rubio and Abinader is expected to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.