The President of the United States, Joe Biden, has his eyes on the conflict between Israel and Hamas, but yesterday he took time out to meet with Dominican President Luis Abinader. During the meeting, they reaffirmed mutual relations, the fight against corruption and drug trafficking, and, above all, the commitment to join efforts to establish peace in Haiti.
The meeting took place within the framework of Abinader’s visit to the United States to participate in the Alliance for Economic Prosperity in the Americas (APEP) or “Alliance of the Americas” forum, attended by several Latin American presidents.
“We are working together to address the historic humanitarian and security situation in Haiti. As I said at the United Nations General Assembly, the people of Haiti cannot wait. And together, we will continue to support the Kenya-led multinational mission,” Biden told Abinader, who, in turn, seconded him on every point.
“And I believe the partnership between our nations is stronger than ever. “Joe BidenPresident of the United States”.
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In his X Biden account he stated: “President Luis Abinader, it was a great meeting with you. As I said today, the partnership between the United States and the Dominican Republic is stronger than ever, a reality that will allow us both to expand economic opportunity, counter corruption, and address the climate crisis.”
Abinader thanked Biden for his words, taking into account that part of the Dominican economic growth is due to trade and the arrival of tourists from the United States, a country where more than two million Dominicans live.
Biden and Abinader boast of a “stronger than ever” relationship in White House meeting
“We share your commitments to strengthen security, democracy, and human rights. We are partners in the defense of democracy in the region”, responded Abinader while he was accompanied by Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez; Jochi Vicente, Minister of Finance; Sonia Guzman, Ambassador to Washington, and other Dominican officials.
Invites him to summit in Punta Cana
Abinader invited Biden to visit the Dominican Republic in 2025 when Punta Cana will host the Summit of the Americas.
“Mr. President, we look forward to welcoming you soon to the Dominican Republic at the next Summit of the Americas in 2025, where we will continue to develop the bonds of prosperity, security, and democracy that unite us. And that summit will be in Punta Cana, so you have time to spend on the beach,” Abinader told him.
This is the second time that the two have publicly shaken hands as leaders. The first time was at the Summit of the Americas last year, where 20 countries signed the “Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection”, an agreement to which the Dominican Republic did not want to commit because it did not have time to review the document, as reported at the time.
APEP’s objective
In the midst of China’s “flirtation” with Latin America, the United States took advantage of the Summit of the Americas, held in Los Angeles in June 2022, to launch the Alliance for Economic Prosperity in the Americas (APEP), or “Partnership of the Americas, to “boost economic growth in the hemisphere and create a more integrated, sustainable and prosperous one”. With the alliance, the countries aim to deepen ties to build more resilient and competitive supply chains.
In addition to the Dominican Republic, participants include Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay, which seek to achieve investments that finance high-level infrastructure such as the jobs of the future.
Friday’s Agenda
This Friday, at 9:00 a.m., Abinader will have breakfast with APEP members at the U.S. Treasury Department. He will then attend the first working session of APEP Heads of State and Government, led by Joe Biden and moderated by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Interventions will focus on economic stability and prosperity.
Abinader will address the second session of the APEP luncheon, after 12:00 noon.
The session will be attended by the leaders of Uruguay, Chile, Barbados, Peru, and Panama. This session will also be chaired by Biden and moderated by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Presentations will focus on developing regional economic competitiveness and fostering greater inclusion. In the afternoon, President Biden will have the closing remarks of the Assembly.
He will also meet with IADB President Ilan Goldfajn and other Latin American presidents.
The President participated in the IDB Forum
On Thursday, the Dominican president participated in the Responsible Investment Forum Alliance of the Americas, organized by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which was also attended by the presidents of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle, and Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chavez.
The event was moderated by IDB President Ilan Goldfajn. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen was also present.
In his agenda, the President has scheduled this morning a bilateral meeting with his Ecuadorian counterpart, Guillermo Lasso. His return is scheduled for Friday night, according to a press release issued by the Presidency.
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