US Secretary of War Visits DR, Vows Action Against Narcoterrorism

The U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, called for swift and decisive action against “narcoterrorists” and drug traffickers during a visit to the Dominican Republic on November 26, 2025. The visit marks the first time a U.S. Secretary of War has traveled to the country.

Hegseth expressed gratitude to Dominican President Luis Abinader for supporting a temporary deployment of U.S. personnel and aircraft involved in “Operation Southern Lance.” This collaboration highlights the increasing U.S. focus on disrupting transnational criminal organizations operating in the Caribbean.

“President Trump has designated these groups as terrorist organizations, drug traffickers, intent on bringing violence and drugs to the countries of the region and to the American people,” Hegseth stated during a press conference at the National Palace following a meeting with President Abinader. “I want those watching, those who see the narco-terrorist boats being attacked, to understand that we take this mission very seriously, but we also take seriously how we undertake it.”

Hegseth described the alliance between the United States and the Dominican Republic as a strong partnership in the fight against drug trafficking and narco-terrorism, calling it “a model for the region.”

“A model we hope to expand with other countries that want to partner with us to ensure that the narco-terrorists who have terrorized our countries receive this message: that we are partnering with more countries, with more elements to stop them,” he said. “The Department of War will stand with you, working with you for mutual benefit, and I believe that is a significant difference in our way of operating.”

Intelligence on Drug Networks

The Secretary of War stated that U.S. forces have a clear understanding of the origins and destinations of drug trafficking networks, as well as their methods and affiliations.

“We understand it as we wage war against narco-terrorists, and we do so offensively in a way that changes the dynamics for the entire region,” Hegseth explained. “We believe this brings security and stability to our partners.”

Delegation Details

The U.S. delegation included U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Leah Francis Campos, as well as Ricky Burria, advisor to the Department of War; Patrick Weaver, advisor; Tammy Radabaugh, assistant deputy; Joseph Humire, undersecretary of war; and Mateo Haydar, department advisor.

President Abinader was accompanied by Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez, Defense Minister Carlos Fernández Onofre, Presidential Minister José Ignacio Paliza, and DNI Director Luis Soto.

Full Remarks by Pete Hegseth

“We had a fantastic meeting. Between both countries, we have an excellent ambassador. You have excellent personnel here. I look forward to working more with your Minister of Defense. But it is a great partnership and a long-standing one between the United States and the Dominican Republic. And I would like to thank the Dominican people for their immense hospitality.

My wife and I realized that we were here about six years ago, also visiting your country, and we have to come back. And I remembered that when I was a young lieutenant in the New York and New Jersey National Guard, I worked with several members of the Dominican Republic, and they were some of the most wonderful human beings, with beautiful, great personalities.

Like the United States, the Dominican Republic understands the importance of border security for national security. If there is no secure border, in a sovereign country, there is no secure country.

President Trump talks about this, your president talks about this, and never hesitates to do whatever it takes to protect its citizens in the United States. We say that this is America first, I don’t know about you, you say that this is Dominican Republic first, but it should be.

But it has never been America alone, or the United States alone, and it should not be for you. Countries must work together, and that is what our meeting is about today. The Dominican Republic also understands the importance of confronting narco-terrorists and drug traffickers who flood our countries with drugs and violence.

We must confront narco-terrorists and their illegal activities with strong and swift action, that is the only language they understand, strength and swift action, so that our citizens are safe and ensure that our countries continue to prosper.

And regarding drugs, as you know, and we in the United States, it is also about saving lives, ending violence, saving tens of thousands of American lives will be saved by the efforts of President Trump. Our military forces, your country, and this partnership, and three the Dominican Republic has become a regional leader prepared and willing to face difficult challenges. That is why I am here today, that is why we decided to come here, first, because we recognize the leadership of your president and of this country.

This also includes resisting the predatory practices of other countries and leading international collections to improve security in Haiti, a topic we have also discussed.

The Dominican Republic has acted and we trust that the Dominican Republic will continue to lead the fight against narco-terrorists, which the president explained so clearly. The President of the United States, President Trump, has designated them as terrorist organizations, drug traffickers, who intend to bring violence and drugs to the countries of the region and to the American people.

I want those watching, those who see the narco-terrorist boats being attacked, to understand that we take this mission very seriously, but we also take seriously how we undertake it. We have the best intelligence, the best lawyers, the best process.

So we know within these networks and these organizations where they come from, where they go, what they bring, what their intentions are, who they represent. And we understand it as we wage war against narco-terrorists and we do so offensively in a way that changes the dynamics for the entire region. And we believe this brings security and stability to our partners.

I want to thank the president for supporting what is a temporary deployment of U.S. personnel and aircraft conducting Operation Southern Lance, always respecting your sovereignty and your laws. It is a great partnership and truly a joint initiative between our countries against drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.

I believe it is a model for the region, a model we hope to expand with other countries that want to partner with us to ensure that the narco-terrorists who have terrorized our organizations, our countries, receive this message, that we are partnering with more countries, with more elements to stop them.

The Department of War will stand with you working with you for mutual benefit. And I believe this is a significant difference in our way of operating. It is not just about what you need, what we need, but what we can do together aggressively, using the assets and advantages we have to address the most pressing issues of the moment. We support you, Mr. President, in addressing this challenge and we want to end this threat.

And my wife and I started the day with a prayer. I would also like to call on God in this process. I want, I didn’t know this, but I learned when I came, that the Dominican Republic is the only country that has a Bible and a cross on its flag. Thank you.

You know that the left will always want to deny it in our country, that the generation, the foundation, the principles of the founding of our country come from the credibility of the Bible, we are founded as a Christian country.

President Washington has called to heaven our soldiers at the Pentagon. We started a monthly prayer service, we must recognize the function of our Christian faith in the conduct of our work, so we join you in this initiative in a correct, calling on God to do the right thing also for our peoples who deserve clear, constitutional leadership.

Thank you very much for today’s meeting, Mr. President, and for the partnership we have. God bless you.”