Dominican President Luis Abinader met Honduran President Nasry Asfura in Santo Domingo to sign a joint declaration on security, migration, and trade cooperation.
The two leaders concluded an official visit by Asfura on Sunday, agreeing to strengthen bilateral working groups and expand commercial ties across several key economic sectors.
Speaking at a joint press conference at the National Palace, Abinader highlighted shared perspectives between the two nations on pressing regional issues, including democracy, border security, migration management, and the situation in Haiti.
Abinader noted that commercial exchange between the Dominican Republic and Honduras has grown steadily in recent years. Both governments expressed a shared commitment to creating policies that will facilitate continued trade expansion.
The Dominican Republic, located in the Caribbean on the island of Hispaniola, and Honduras, situated in Central America, have maintained formal diplomatic relations for more than a century. Abinader has served as the Dominican president since 2020, while Asfura leads the Central American republic of Honduras.
Regional security and trade expansion
During their bilateral discussions, the presidents evaluated opportunities to boost joint efforts in investment, tourism, culture, connectivity, and local productive sectors. They also discussed environmental challenges affecting the wider Caribbean basin, including the seasonal impact of sargassum seaweed on coastal communities.
Sargassum, a type of floating brown algae, frequently spreads across Caribbean coastal areas during warmer months. The thick mats of seaweed disrupt marine ecosystems, coastal fishing, and beach tourism infrastructure across both Central America and the Caribbean.
Addressing regional stability, Abinader explained that the situation in neighboring Haiti requires coordinated action between both nations. Although he included Haiti among key issues requiring bilateral coordination, he offered no additional details regarding specific proposals discussed during the meeting.
In addition to diplomatic coordination, Honduras expressed interest in gaining access to aircraft and armored vehicles assembled in the Dominican Republic to bolster its domestic security capabilities.
The Dominican Republic shares a land border on Hispaniola with Haiti, where severe political instability and violent gang activity have prompted heightened security measures across neighboring nations. The high-level talks took place at the National Palace, the official seat of government in Santo Domingo.
Building long-term cooperation
To turn strong political relations into tangible results, the two governments agreed on a structured work agenda for the coming months. Abinader explained that both nations will strengthen spaces for bilateral dialogue to create practical mechanisms for economic and social exchange.
Reflecting on the historical relationship between the two countries, Abinader stated that the primary challenge is leveraging more than 100 years of diplomatic ties to generate greater benefits for both populations.
He concluded by assuring the Honduran delegation that Honduras can count on the Dominican Republic as a friendly nation and a partner fully prepared to work together.
