Dominican debate over U.S. access to military facilities raises regional questions: Video

The announcement, made alongside the U.S. Secretary of Defence, has placed the Dominican Republic at the centre of a wider regional debate on security cooperation and sovereignty.

Supporters argue that the measure could strengthen efforts against narcotrafficking routes that cut through the Caribbean and increasingly impact local communities. But others see the decision as part of a long pattern of U.S. strategic interests in the region. “I think it is more about United States interests than about helping our country,” said resident Ricardo Jimenez to Viory, adding later: “I would not really support the President’s decision because it goes against our rights, it goes against our Constitution, which is always to have everything under government control.”

Concerns over foreign influence were echoed by other residents who questioned Washington’s intentions in a region where geopolitical tensions intersect with domestic security needs. “If there are other objectives, I really do not know. But you know that the United States always has an ace up its sleeve,” said Virginia Ramirez.

The government insists the authorisation is strictly temporary and limited to refuelling, transport and technical support, stressing that no foreign military operations will take place on Dominican soil. Still, the decision has sparked a broader national discussion, one that reflects the Dominican Republic’s longstanding tension between reliance on international security partnerships and the desire to safeguard its sovereignty in a region where external powers have long shaped the rules of engagement.