“As the Summit of the Americas nears, geopolitical rivalry is reshaping the Caribbean—and the Dominican Republic is emerging at the heart of this evolving order.”
For the ancient Romans, the Mediterranean was known as Mare Nostrum – “our sea” – not merely because of its geography, but for its central role in trade, diplomacy and imperial expansion and security. Today, the Caribbean occupies a comparable position in the geopolitics of the Americas: a vital geostrategic corridor in a time of geopolitical competition. Often referred to as “America’s third border” [1], the region, once peripheral in global affairs, is rapidly emerging as a zone of strategic interest – with the Dominican Republic (DR) at the forefront of renewed great power engagement.
As the next Summit of the Americas approaches, the DR’s evolving role amid intensifying geopolitical competition in the Caribbean has become more visible and consequential recasting the Dominican Republic not just as a pawn in the regional order, but as an active player in a reconfiguration of regional dynamics.
With a GDP of over $120 billion (2025) [2] and a population of nearly 11 million, the Dominican Republic is the largest economy in Central America and the Caribbean, and one of its most populous nations. Combined with social stability, a strategic location, and a strong democratic record, these fundamentals are elevating the country’s geopolitical relevance.
Changing Times in the Caribbean
The Caribbean’s foreign policy – long shaped by proximity to the United States – has entered a period of redefinition. Beginning in 2018 with the entry of Trinidad and Tobago into the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – followed by Suriname, Guyana, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Barbados –the region signaled a growing willingness to diversify its diplomatic and economic partnerships. That same year, the Dominican Republic formally established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, while also breaking relations with Taiwan, marking a significant geopolitical shift in the Greater Caribbean, and a marked departure from U.S. priorities.
In recent years, the Dominican Republic has begun recalibrating its foreign policy toward a more multidirectional orientation. Notably, the previous administration established diplomatic relations with China, yet this administration has chosen a more cautious approach – engaging with China, while limiting Chinese investment in strategic and sensitive sectors, such as ports, telecoms and logistics [3].
Simultaneously, other global players are entering the Caribbean stage. Recently, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov [4] paid an official one-day visit to the island nation, inaugurating the Russian Embassy and appointing a resident ambassador. Similarly, India’s Foreign Minister [5] visited Santo Domingo to officially open the Indian Embassy. Saudi Arabia [6] has also announced plans to establish a diplomatic mission in the country, underscoring the region’s growing geostrategic appeal.
At the same time, the Abinader administration has cultivated close ties with the current Trump administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has made engagement with the Caribbean and Central America a cornerstone of his tenure, visiting the Dominican Republic [7]– a move that signals renewed U.S. interest in the region. During this visit, President Abinader and Secretary of State Rubio held a press conference where they reaffirmed strong bilateral ties, and emphasized cooperation on key issues such as trade, regional security, Haiti and announced a landmark initiative where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s will assist the Dominican Republic in exploring possible rare earth deposits in the Pedernales region [8].
Moreover, the Abinader administration has strategically positioned the Dominican diaspora—particularly the more than two million Dominican-Americans in the United States [9]—as a vital pillar of the country’s foreign policy and economic strategy. Beyond its substantial contributions in remittances, which totaled over $10.76 billion in 2024 [10], the Dominican diaspora has also emerged as a key political swing community with a strong presence in critical battleground states. Notably, in the 2024 U.S. election, then-candidate Donald Trump improved his support among these voters, reflecting shifting political dynamics within this influential group [11].
A More Assertive Voice on Regional Flashpoints
Amidst the broader context of global competition, the Dominican Republic has adopted bolder positions on key regional crises—particularly in Haiti and Venezuela. Long known for its cautious diplomacy, the country has emerged as a more vocal and principled actor.
The Dominican Republic has placed the Haitian Crisis at the center of its foreign policy agenda. Under the Abinader administration, the DR has adopted a dual approach that combines strict migration control and national security measures – most notably the construction of a border wall and the designation of Haitian gangs as terrorist organizations – with robust advocacy for international support. In this sense, the DR has actively participated in UN Security Council deliberations, and the country has been a vocal and consistent supporter of the UN-mandated Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti.
On Venezuela, the DR departed from its traditional stance of neutrality by joining Argentina, Costa Rica, and Ecuador in a joint post-election statement denouncing the lack of transparency in the July 2024 presidential vote. Historically, the DR had maintained close ties with Venezuela – reflected in its participation in PetroCaribe and a generally non-confrontational posture. However, since 2014, bilateral relations have undergone a marked shift, with growing political and ideological distance between the two governments. This position led to a diplomatic standoff with Caracas, culminating in the expulsion of Dominican diplomats from Venezuela [12]—a watershed moment in the country’s foreign policy trajectory.
Betting on the Summit
All eyes now turn to the Summit of the Americas, where the Dominican Republic will play a central role as host. Looking ahead, the Abinader administration sees the upcoming Summit of the Americas as a key platform to reinforce the Dominican Republic’s middle-power aspiration and position the country as the region’s leading economic hub. Through this engagement, the DR seeks to attract greater U.S. investment, highlight its sustained economic growth, and insert itself into broader hemispheric leadership on trade and democratic governance.
Notably, in a moment of geopolitical transition, the Dominican Republic seeks to establish itself as a premier hub for nearshoring and friendshoring. This strategic positioning targets U.S. companies relocating operations from Asia, offering them a U.S. friendly, geographically proximate, and business friendly environment. Whether this diplomatic gamble yields the intended results remains to be seen—but what is clear is this: the Caribbean is no longer a geopolitical afterthought, and the Dominican Republic is making its case as both stage and player in the region’s unfolding strategic realignment.
[1] O’Neil, S. (2024, March 22). The US needs to build a new Caribbean policy. Rubio’s trip to the region can be the first step. Atlantic Council. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/the-us-needs-to-build-a-new-caribbean-policy-rubios-trip-to-the-region-can-be-the-first-step/
[2] International Monetary Fund. (n.d.). Dominican Republic: DataMapper profile. Retrieved July 11, 2025, from https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/profile/DOM
[3] Listin Diario . (2020, October 30). Abinader: China cannot have investments in ports, telecommunications, and airports in the Dominican Republic. Listin Diario. https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2020/10/30/641835/abinader-china-no-puede-tener-inversiones-en-puertos-telecomunicaciones-y-aeropuertos-en-rd.html
[4] The Associated Press. (2025, April 30). Russia’s foreign minister visits the Dominican Republic to strengthen economic and commercial ties. AP News. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/dominican-republic-russia-lavrov-embassy-b8650f72900a28ff88acd957d40fa35e
[5] The Hindu. (2023, April 29). EAM Jaishankar inaugurates Indian embassy in Dominican Republic. The Hindu. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/eam-jaishankar-inaugurates-indian-embassy-in-dominican-republic/article66792204.ece
[6] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic (MIREX). (2023, May 5). Dominican Republic and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to open reciprocal embassies in Riyadh and Santo Domingo. Retrieved from https://mirex.gob.do/republica-dominicana-y-el-reino-de-arabia-saudita-abriran-de-manera-reciproca-sus-embajadas-en-riad-y-santo-domingo/
[7] Dominican Today. (2025, February 7). Marco Rubio concludes Dominican Republic visit. Dominican Today. Retrieved from https://dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2025/02/07/marco-rubio-concludes-dominican-republic-visit/
[8] Magdalena Lizardo (2025). ‘U.S. and DR to explore collaboration on extraction of rare-earth elements”, Global Source Partners: https://www.globalsourcepartners.com/posts/u-s-and-dr-to-explore-collaboration-on-extraction-of-rare-earth-elements/teaser
[9] Institute of Dominicans Abroad. (2025). More than two million Dominicans live abroad, according to INDEX. El Nuevo Diario. https://elnuevodiario.com.do/mas-de-dos-millones-de-dominicanos-reside-fuera-del-pais-segun-el-index/
[10] Dominican Today. (2025). Dominican Republic receives US$10,756 million in remittances in 2024. https://dominicantoday.com/dr/economy/2025/01/10/dominican-republic-receives-us10756-million-in-remittances-in-2024/
[11] Helmore, E. (2024). ‘A change from the status quo’: the voters who backed Trump and AOC. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/17/trump-aoc-voters
[12] Delgado, Antonio Maria (2024). Venezuela expels diplomats from Latin American nations that questioned Maduro reelection. Miami Herald. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article290550834.html
