The Defense Department announced on Nov. 25 that Secretary of Defense Hegseth would be traveling to the Dominican Republic on Nov. 26, where he is to meet with President Luis Abinader, Minister of Defense Lt. Gen. Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre, and Cabinet officials, “to strengthen defense relationships and reaffirm America’s commitment to defend the homeland, protect our regional partners and ensure stability and security across the Americas,” reported a Pentagon press release.
Hegseth’s trip to the region follows on the heels of that of Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, who was in Trinidad and Tobago on Nov. 25, where he met with T&T Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in Port of Spain “to reaffirm the strong partnership between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago and discuss shared priorities for regional security and stability,” said the JCS readout of the meeting. “General Caine and Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar exchanged views on challenges affecting the Caribbean region, including the destabilizing effects of illicit narcotics, arms, and human trafficking, and transnational criminal organization activities. The Chairman emphasized that close cooperation between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago directly contributes to safeguarding regional security.”
