Santo Domingo Hosts 19-Nation Cartel Talks
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC · SECURITY
Key Facts
- What is happening The Dominican Republic and US Southern Command hosted defence and security officials from 19 nations in Santo Domingo on 26 and 27 October to draft a joint plan against cartels.
- Why it matters The talks turn a US-led pact announced in March into an operating plan, so American intelligence and military cooperation across the hemisphere could deepen.
- The numbers Nineteen nations took part over two days. Earlier coalition meetings took place in Miami in March and in Panama City in August.
- Who is who President Luis Abinader opened the meeting beside General Francis Donovan, Southern Command chief, US Ambassador Leah Francis Campos and Dominican Defence Minister Carlos Fernández Onofre.
- What to watch Whether the 19 nations publish the strategic operational plan and governance charter, and which countries commit forces, intelligence or bases to it.
- What it means for you For US readers, the Caribbean island is a close security partner, and the coalition shows how Washington now organises its anti-drug effort in the hemisphere.
Defence and security officials from 19 nations met in Santo Domingo. They worked to turn a US-led pact against drug cartels into a joint plan.
The Dominican Republic and the United States hosted a two-day conference in Santo Domingo on 26 and 27 October. It gathered 19 Western Hemisphere nations to plan a joint strategy against cartels and organised crime, the Dominican presidency said.
US Southern Command, the American military command for Latin America and the Caribbean, co-ran the meeting with the Dominican Defence Ministry. Chile’s debate over how far to join was a running story before the summit.
What the Conference Is For
The gathering is formally called the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition conference, known by its English initials A3C. Ministers and senior officials worked on two documents: a strategic operational plan and a governance charter.
The presidency said the two papers will set priorities, coordination rules and the coalition’s structure. They are meant to turn earlier promises into “concrete and sustainable actions”.
The coalition also wants to go beyond seizing drug shipments. It says it will target the financing, logistics and corruption that keep criminal networks running.
Who Opened the Talks
President Luis Abinader opened the conference on Tuesday, 27 October, the presidency said. He told delegates that if crime organises across borders, the response of states “cannot remain fragmented nationally”.
Abinader also stressed trust, respect for sovereignty and each country’s own laws. He asked for clear responsibilities and measurable results, and backed ways to evaluate progress.
Also present were General Francis Donovan, a US Marine Corps officer who commands Southern Command, and US Ambassador Leah Francis Campos. Dominican Defence Minister Carlos Fernández Onofre and Interior Minister Faride Raful attended too.
How the Coalition Got Here
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth convened defence and security leaders in Miami in March, where participants signed a cooperation agreement. A follow-up meeting in Panama City in August began defining how the coalition would operate.
The presidency said the Santo Domingo conference gives that process new momentum. It calls the coalition separate from, but complementary to, the Shield of the Americas.
The Shield is a political alliance driven by heads of state. In Panama, Donovan said a campaign plan would be written and approved by November, a US Department of War account says.
That account says 19 partner members of the coalition met in Panama. It does not say whether the United States is among them or whether the same 19 attended in Santo Domingo.
What It Means for US Readers
The coalition gives Washington a standing network of partners for sharing intelligence and planning joint operations against cartels. A Caribbean host with close US ties shows how far that network now reaches beyond Mexico and Colombia.
Travellers should expect no change from this meeting alone, because no new operations or deployments were announced. Companies with shipping, banking or tourism exposure in the region should watch for rules on financial networks and border controls.
Background is in the Dominican Republic news hub and the guide to Dominican–US relations. See also the report on two Dominican battalions sent to the Haiti border.
What Is Not Known
The official statements do not list the 19 nations or say whether the count includes the United States. No official outcome, signing or vote on the plan and charter had been published by Wednesday morning, 28 October.
The text of both documents has not been released, so their legal force and any spending or troop commitments are unclear. Neither US Southern Command nor the US Embassy has published a results statement that could be opened.
What Comes Next
The next sign will be an official summary of what the delegations adopted in Santo Domingo. Donovan said in Panama that a campaign plan would be approved by November, a US Department of War account says.
The conference does not by itself authorise US forces to operate in the Dominican Republic. The presidency says all action must respect each state’s sovereignty and legal framework.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition?
It is a US-led group of Western Hemisphere countries against drug cartels. It was announced in March at a Miami meeting convened by Pete Hegseth, the US War Secretary.
Who hosted the Santo Domingo conference?
The Dominican Defence Ministry and US Southern Command hosted it. President Luis Abinader opened the talks on Tuesday, 27 October.
What did the 19 nations work on?
They worked on a strategic operational plan and a governance charter. The papers set priorities, coordination and how the coalition is run.
Is this the same as the Shield of the Americas?
They are separate. The Dominican presidency calls the coalition independent but complementary to the Shield, a political mechanism backed by heads of state.
Will US troops now operate in the Dominican Republic?
Nothing announced says so. The presidency says all cooperation must respect each country’s sovereignty and laws.
Sources: Presidency of the Dominican Republic, opening of the A3C conference, 27 October; Presidency of the Dominican Republic, statement on the 19-nation conference, 27 October; Hoy (Santo Domingo daily), 27 October; Hoy, 28 October; Ensegundos (Dominican news site), 27 October; Bajo Techo (Dominican news site), 27 October; US Department of War, Hegseth touts Americas Counter Cartel Coalition during Panama visit (undated; August forum) (all accessed 28 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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