Dominican Republic and Russia strengthen ties

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic and Russia are entering a new phase of strengthened diplomatic ties, confirmed after a meeting between Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in New York during the UN General Assembly.

A key topic was the possible restoration of direct flights between Moscow and Santo Domingo, suspended due to the war in Ukraine and international sanctions. Despite these setbacks, more than 26,000 Russian tourists visited the country last year, compared to nearly half a million in previous years. Álvarez highlighted that demand for travel remains strong, with Russian tourists urging their government to resume flights.

Beyond tourism, the discussions addressed investments, trade, and multilateral cooperation, with Russia showing particular understanding of the challenges the Dominican Republic faces regarding Haiti. While no dates were confirmed, Álvarez noted that negotiations are advancing and that President Luis Abinader will soon announce the next steps in consolidating this renewed alliance.