Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
Santo Domingo, Dec. 8 - A C-5 Super Galaxy aircraft from the United States landed at San Isidro Air Base, while a C-17 Globemaster III arrived at Las Américas International Airport (AILA, for its acronym in Spanish) in the Dominican Republic, according to press reports today.
Diario Libre reported that, according to military sources, both aircraft landed this Sunday carrying humanitarian aid that had been planned for some time.
It noted that other flights carried out in previous days transported materials and supplies related to operations agreed upon between the two governments during the recent visit to the country by the US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth.
According to Listín Diario, the general coordination of the military flights was in charge of the Ministry of Defense of the Dominican Republic, the entity responsible for supervising and directing this type of operation.
Dominican President Luis Abinader announced on November 26 that the Pentagon could use restricted areas of the San Isidro Air Base and the AILA to refuel and transport equipment and technical personnel.
Abinader explained that the measure is based on the 1995 Maritime and Air Interdiction Agreement and its 2003 Amendment Protocol, which regulate cooperation in air and maritime surveillance. He specified that the permit has a "technical, limited, and temporary scope" (until April 2026).
Both instruments stipulate that any action requires prior authorization and accompaniment from the Ministry of Defense and the National Directorate for Drug Control (DNCD, for its acronym in Spanish).
The signing of the agreement, which took place during Pete Hegseth's visit, generated strong criticism from different sectors, who believe the measure could affect national sovereignty. (Text and photo: PL)
