Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader announced on Monday that the temporary agreement allowing U.S. personnel to access restricted areas of key Dominican airports for counter-narcotics support will expire in April 2026. He clarified that the arrangement, signed last week during U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit, is strictly logistical and non-combat in nature.
Abinader detailed that the accord permits U.S. aircraft to refuel and move equipment within restricted zones at Las Americas International Airport and the San Isidro air base. The President emphasized that the cooperation strengthens an existing bilateral anti-drug framework dating back to agreements from 1995 and 2003, noting that enhanced technological support and coordination with the Dominican Navy would significantly bolster regional security efforts.
The agreement is part of a broader U.S. strategy to intensify anti-narcotics operations across the Caribbean, which has recently included lethal strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels as pressure mounts on Venezuela’s government. U.S. officials have described the Dominican partnership as a model they aim to expand to additional nations in the region.
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