NEW YORK — As Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader continues his diplomatic schedule on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, he took part in a high-level session Tuesday focused on the Shield of the Americas, a regional security initiative spearheaded by U.S. President Donald Trump that brings together leaders and diplomatic representatives from across the Western Hemisphere.
Before the formal meeting kicked off, Abinader held informal discussions with a group of regional political leaders, including Chilean President José Antonio Kast, Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, Argentine President Javier Milei, Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz, and prominent Peruvian opposition leader Keiko Fujimori. The gathering gave leaders a chance to exchange informal greetings and pose for photographs ahead of the structured working session.
The Shield of the Americas initiative was created to address a growing shared challenge across the Americas: the rise of drug trafficking, violent cartel activity, and transnational organized crime. It aims to deepen cross-border coordination and cooperative action to disrupt these criminal networks. The Dominican Republic was an early participant in the initiative, joining the first summit held in Miami this past March, where Abinader added his signature to a proclamation formally establishing a regional coalition dedicated to countering the influence and power of drug cartels.
Accompanying Abinader on his New York trip is Víctor “Ito” Bisonó, the Dominican Republic’s Foreign Minister. The Shield of the Americas meeting is just one stop on a packed international agenda that also includes a series of bilateral meetings focused on expanding cooperation, boosting bilateral trade, attracting new foreign investment, and advancing sustainable development priorities for the Caribbean nation.
Looking ahead to Wednesday, Abinader is scheduled to deliver his address to the full 81st UN General Assembly, one of the most anticipated moments of his New York visit. Later that same day, per an announcement from the Dominican Presidency, he is set to receive the Gold Insigne of the Americas Society, marking the first time a sitting Dominican head of state has been honored with this prestigious distinction from the inter-American organization.