The president of the Dominican Republic says he has authorized the U.S. government to operate inside restricted areas in the Caribbean country to help in its fight against drug trafficking.
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7M in federal transit funding will add 2 hybrid buses to Texas State University fleet, officials sayU.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press conference after a meeting with Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader at the National Palace in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, left, and Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader speak during a press conference at the National Palace in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press conference after a meeting with Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader at the National Palace in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. President Luis Abinader announced Wednesday that he has authorized the U.S. government to operate inside restricted areas in the Caribbean country to help For a limited time, the U.S. can refuel aircraft and transport equipment and technical personnel at restricted areas within the San Isidro Air Base and Las Américas International Airport, said Abinader, who made the announcement withHegseth was in Santo Domingo Wednesday to meet with the country’s top leaders, including Abinader and Minister of Defense Lt. Gen. Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre. It is the first major public agreement that the U.S. has struck with a Caribbean nation as it seeks friendly allies to support its attacks against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the region and beyond. Since the strikes began in early September,“That’s why I’m here today. That’s why we decided to come here first,” he said. “The Dominican Republic has stepped up.” Hegseth said the U.S. would respect the Caribbean country’s sovereignty and laws as U.S. service members and aircraft prepare to deploy to the Dominican Republic. He did not provide additional details.“The purpose is clear: to strengthen the air and maritime protection ring maintained by our Armed Forces, a decisive reinforcement to prevent the entry of narcotics and to strike a more decisive blow against transnational organized crime,” he said. After a news conference where no questions were allowed, the office of the president issued a statement with more details, noting that several KC-135 tanker aircraft would be present to support air patrol missions, expanding monitoring and interdiction capabilities over a large portion of the maritime and air domains. “They would also provide refueling services to aircraft from partner countries, thus ensuring sustained operations for monitoring, detecting, and tracking verified illicit smuggling activities,” according to the statement.nearly 10 times more drugs per year in the past five years than in the previous decade thanks to close collaboration with the U.S. “Our country faces a real threat, a threat that knows no borders, no flags, that destroys families, and that has been trying to use our territory for decades," he said."That threat is drug trafficking, and no country can or should confront it without allies.” Hegseth praised Abinader, saying that the Dominican Republic “understands the importance of standing up to narco-terrorists and narco-traffickers who flood our countries with drugs and violence.” “We’re deadly serious about this mission,” Hegseth said, asserting that the U.S. has the best intelligence, lawyers and process. “We know…where they’re leaving from, where they’re going, what they’re bringing, what their intentions are, who they represent.” Hegseth’s visit comes a day after Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and U.S. President Donald Trump’s primary military adviser, met with, drawing criticism ever since stating in early September that she had no sympathy for drug traffickers and that “the U.S. military should kill them all violently.” On Wednesday, Persad-Bissessar told reporters that U.S. marines were recently in the twin-island nation to do some work at an airport roadway and to train with local soldiers. “They are not here on the ground,” she said. “We are not about to launch any campaign against Venezuela.” She said that Trinidad has not been asked to be a base for any attack against Venezuela, and that Venezuela was not mentioned in conversations with the U.S. on Tuesday.Prior to visiting Trinidad and Tobago, Caine stopped by the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico to visit American troops there and boarded at least one U.S. Navy ship.Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell told Parliament earlier this month that any decision possibly allowing the Trump administration to install a temporary radar at the island's international airport “will not be a secret, nor will it be one that violates domestic or international laws.”Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Daniela Ibarra tries Guess that Pie with David ElderSan Antonio Marathon seeks volunteers for inaugural eventCAUGHT ON CAMERA: 9-year-old hospitalized after woman allegedly told her to driveKerr Co. finds hope 145 days post-floodsHill Country flood survivors still not in permanent home during the holidays100+ homes damaged after tornado rips through Harris CountyHow you can help Wreaths Across AmericaNew mural on South Side celebrates San Antonio’s rich cultural heritageSan Antonio nonprofit helps meet students’ need for new underwear
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