U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that he has “many friends” in the Dominican Republic while referencing Dominican President Luis Abinader during a summit held at his golf club in Doral, Florida, with several regional leaders.
Summit Focuses on Regional Security
During the meeting, Trump mentioned each of his 12 guests individually. When introducing President Abinader, he commented, “The president of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader. And many of my friends are in the Dominican Republic, including the ‘King of Sugar,’ right? He really is the King of Sugar. He has a lot of sugar. I don’t know if that’s great or poor, but he has a lot, right?”
President Trump announced the creation of an alliance of 17 American countries aimed at destroying drug cartels in the region. “The heart of our agreement is the commitment to utilize lethal military force to destroy these sinister cartels and terrorist networks. Once and for all, we are going to end them,” he said.
Several key allies of President Trump attended the summit, including Argentine President Javier Milei, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, and Honduran President Nasry Asfura. Presidents from Bolivia, Panama, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, and the president-elect of Chile, José Antonio Kast, were also present.
Dominican Republic and U.S. Cooperation
President Abinader and President Trump shook hands and briefly spoke before the meeting. Abinader later wrote on social media, “Thank you, President Donald Trump. The relationship between the Dominican Republic and the United States is historic and we will continue working together to strengthen cooperation between our nations.”
Abinader also met with U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright to discuss energy cooperation and strengthening relations between the two countries, as well as initiatives focused on sustainable development and energy security in the region.
During his speech, Trump drew laughter from attendees when he stated, “I’m not going to learn your damn language. I don’t have time. I was good at languages, but I’m not going to spend time learning your language. Just give me a good translator. The translator is very important.”
Abinader affirmed that the alliance is “an initiative to strengthen regional cooperation against organized crime” and reiterated the Dominican Republic’s commitment to hemispheric security and cooperation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the purpose of the summit?
The summit, called “Shield of the Americas,” was convened by President Trump to discuss issues including illegal and mass migration, the threat of criminal gangs, drug traffickers, and terrorist organizations.
Who attended the summit?
Twelve heads of state from across the Americas attended the summit, including the presidents of Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the president-elect of Chile.
What did President Trump say about learning Spanish?
President Trump stated, “I’m not going to learn your damn language. I don’t have time.” He added that he would rely on a translator.
Given the stated goals of the newly formed alliance, what challenges might arise in implementing a strategy of “lethal military force” against drug cartels?
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