SANTO DOMINGO – The United States Air Force has established a significant military presence at Las Américas International Airport (AILA) in the Dominican Republic, deploying ten C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft to support regional security operations. This strategic deployment forms the operational backbone of Operation Southern Spear, a comprehensive initiative directed by the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) to disrupt transnational criminal networks.
The temporary airbase, established on runway 17-35, represents a critical logistical node for U.S. Department of Defense missions across the Caribbean basin. According to official statements, the primary objectives of this military mobilization are to dismantle illicit narcotics trafficking routes and enhance the security of U.S. territorial borders, aligning with current presidential directives on national security.
Specialized units including the 921st Contingency Response Squadron and the 621st Contingency Response Wing are managing the expeditionary operations. The 921st Squadron, specializing in rapid airfield activation and preparation, collaborated with the 621st Wing—a component of Air Mobility Command—which provides integrated capabilities in security operations, advanced logistics, meteorological support, and expeditionary air traffic control. This joint effort demonstrates the U.S. military’s capacity for rapid global mobility and strategic response to emerging security challenges in the Western Hemisphere.