Dominican Defense Minister says Haiti border remains “completely calm”

Dominican Defense Minister Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández said Wednesday that the border with Haiti remains “completely calm” following a visit to the main official crossing points amid heightened security operations in Haiti.

Fernández toured the border alongside Presidency Minister José Ignacio Paliza, visiting checkpoints in Dajabón, Elías Piña, Jimaní and Pedernales. Authorities reported that commerce, authorized movement of people and other routine activities are continuing normally.

The defense minister said armed gangs remain concentrated in areas such as Mirebalais and Croix-des-Bouquets, which he described as being farther from the Dominican border than some reports have suggested.

The visit comes after Salvadoran troops deployed to Haiti to combat armed gangs and search for four soldiers who disappeared following an attack on October 18.

The Dominican government recently reinforced the border with two additional battalions, heavy equipment and artillery, adding to the approximately 11,000 military personnel already stationed in the area, according to President Luis Abinader.

Paliza urged caution in dealing with the conflict, stressing the importance of respecting international procedures to avoid prolonging the crisis. He said the Dominican Republic is providing El Salvador with logistical, intelligence, military equipment and medical support as needed.

Both officials reaffirmed the commitment of the Dominican Armed Forces to maintaining security along the border and said the government would take additional measures if the situation requires them.