On a Friday morning marked by diplomatic protocol, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader touched down in the Colombian city of Cali, beginning a one-day official visit to attend the swearing-in ceremony of incoming Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella.
After his aircraft arrived at Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport, Abinader was greeted by a welcoming party that included Félix Aracena, the Dominican Republic’s ambassador to Colombia, senior Colombian protocol officers, and ranking civil and military representatives from the host nation. The visit opened with formal military honors, a standard diplomatic gesture for visiting heads of state.
Accompanying President Abinader on the trip is Roberto Álvarez, the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. The visit was arranged in response to an official invitation extended to the Dominican government, a step that highlights the longstanding diplomatic bonds and collaborative partnership between the Caribbean nation and the South American country.
Before the inauguration ceremony gets underway at the USC Arena, located on the campus of Santiago de Cali University, Abinader has a packed schedule of bilateral engagements with other visiting heads of state and high-level government officials from across the region. He is also slated to attend an official welcome reception hosted by President-elect de la Espriella and his spouse, Ana Lucía Pineda.
Once the swearing-in ceremony concludes, President Abinader and the entire Dominican delegation are scheduled to depart Colombia and return to the Dominican Republic by the end of the same day, wrapping up the quick diplomatic mission.