President Luis Abinader Corona has authorized the creation of an air base in Barahona province, named the Southern Command of the Dominican Republic Air Force (FARD).
This move aligns with the Armed Forces Organic Law No. 139-13 provisions. The directive also outlines the steps for acquiring land for the base’s construction.
This Southern Air Command’s establishment was previously announced by President Abinader in October 2022, among other initiatives aimed at enhancing and equipping the Armed Forces, as reported by Infodefensa.com.
The new facility is being built at the María Montéz International Airport, situated three kilometers north of the Caribbean port city of Barahona.
Construction has begun, and an advanced Air Force unit has already been deployed on-site.
Currently, the Dominican Air Force operates two major bases: the San Isidro Air Base, the principal one located 25 kilometers east of the capital, Santo Domingo, and the Puerto Plata/Northern Command Air Base on the Atlantic coast in the northern province of Puerto Plata.
This new Barahona air base construction aligns with the Dominican Republic’s broader plans to strengthen and expand military facilities and units along its western border, considering the ongoing severe crisis in neighboring Haiti, which impacts its security.