Foreign relations of the Dominican Republic

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The Dominican Republic has a close relationship with the United States and with the other states of the Inter-American system. It has accredited diplomatic missions in most Western Hemisphere countries and in principal European capitals.

History[edit]

The Dominican Republic maintained very limited relations with most of the countries of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. It concentrated its diplomatic activities in four critical arenas: the circum-Caribbean, Latin America, the United States, and Western Europe (mainly West Germany, Spain, and France).[1]

Bilateral relations[edit]

Africa[edit]

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Egypt
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Cairo.
  • Egypt is accredited to the Dominican Republic from its embassy in Havana, Cuba.
 Morocco
  • Morocco has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Rabat.
 South Africa
  • South Africa is accredited to the Dominican Republic from its high commission in Kingston, Jamaica.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Pretoria.

Americas[edit]

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Argentina
 Belize
  • Belize has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic is accredited to Belize from its embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
 Brazil
 Canada
  • Canada has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Ottawa and two consulates-general in Montreal and Toronto.
 Chile
  • Chile has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Santiago.
 Colombia
  • Colombia has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Bogotá.
 Costa Rica
  • Costa Rica has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in San José.
 Cuba

On 26 June 1959, Cuba broke diplomatic relations with the Dominican Republic, citing, among other things, the latter's protection of "Batista war criminals," the sacking of the Cuban Embassy in Ciudad Trujillo, the preparation of a "counter-revolutionary force of 25,000 men" aimed against Cuba, insults against Cuba by the government-controlled press and radio and, especially, attacks by the Dominican Air Force on its own defenseless civilian population and the "torture and assassination of prisoners".[4] The Dominican Republic and Cuba recently established consular relations, and there is contact in fields such as commerce, culture, and sports.

  • Cuba has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Havana.
 Ecuador
  • Ecuador has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Quito.
 El Salvador
  • El Salvador has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in San Salvador.
 Guatemala
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Guatemala City.
 Guyana 19 October 1970
 Haiti See Dominican Republic–Haiti relations
Haitian workers being transported in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Port-au-Prince and several consulates-generals throughout the country.
  • Haiti has an embassy in Santo Domingo and several consulates-general throughout the country.
 Honduras
  • Honduras has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Tegucigalpa.
 Jamaica
  • Jamaica has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Kingston.
 Mexico 23 July 1888 See Dominican Republic–Mexico relations

Diplomatic relations between the Dominican Republic and Mexico were established on 23 July 1888.

  • Mexico has an embassy in Santo Domingo.[6]
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Mexico City.[7]
 Nicaragua
  • Nicaragua has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Managua.
 Panama
  • Panama has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Panama City.
 Paraguay
  • Paraguay has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Asuncion.
 Peru
  • Peru has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Lima.
 Puerto Rico

The Dominican Republic has very strong ties and relations with Puerto Rico. Although a United States Commonwealth, the island is the Dominican Republic's largest trading partner. While relations between the islands have had difficulties, mainly due to the huge exodus of illegal immigrants from the Dominican Republic due to the nation's history of economic woes, the islands still, with the assistance of the United States Coast Guard and the Dominican Navy have worked hard to reduce the number of Dominicans crossing the Mona Passage in recent years. Puerto Rico is home to an estimated 485,000 Dominicans,[8][failed verification] and the Dominican Republic maintains consulates in the cities of San Juan and Mayagüez.

 Trinidad and Tobago
  • Trinidad and Tobago is accredited to the Dominican Republic from its high commission in Kingston, Jamaica.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Port-of-Spain.
 United States See Dominican Republic–United States relations

The Dominican Republic's standing as the largest Caribbean economy, second-largest country in terms of population and land mass, with large bilateral trade with the United States, and its proximity to the United States and other smaller Caribbean nations make the Dominican Republic an important partner in hemispheric affairs. The Embassy estimates that 100,000 U.S. citizens live in the Dominican Republic; many are dual nationals. An important element of the relationship between the two countries is the fact that more than 1 million individuals of Dominican origin reside in the United States, most of them in the metropolitan Northeast and some in Florida.

U.S. relations with the Dominican Republic are excellent. The Dominican Government has been supportive of many U.S. initiatives in the United Nations and related agencies. The two governments cooperate in the fight against the traffic in illegal substances. The Dominican Republic has worked closely with U.S. law enforcement officials on issues such as the extradition of fugitives and measures to hinder illegal migration.

The United States supports efforts to improve Dominican competitiveness, to attract foreign private investment, to fight corruption, and to modernize the tax system. Bilateral trade is important to both countries. U.S. firms, mostly manufacturers of apparel, footwear, and light electronics, as well as U.S. energy companies, account for much of the foreign private investment in the Dominican Republic.

Exports from the United States, including those from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, to the Dominican Republic in 2005 totaled $5.3 billion, up 11% from the previous year. The Dominican Republic exported $4.5 billion to the United States in 2006, equaling some 75% of its export revenues. The Dominican Republic is the 47th-largest commercial partner of the U.S. The U.S. Embassy works closely with U.S. business firms and Dominican trade groups, both of which can take advantage of the new opportunities in this growing market. At the same time, the embassy is working with the Dominican Government to resolve a range of ongoing commercial and investment disputes.

The Embassy counsels U.S. firms through its Country Commercial Guide and informally via meetings with business persons planning to invest or already investing in the Dominican Republic. This is a challenging business environment for U.S. firms, especially for medium to smaller sized businesses.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) mission is focused on improving access of underserved populations to quality health care and combating HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis; promoting economic growth through policy reform, support for CAFTA-DR implementation, and technical assistance to small producers and tourism groups; environmental protection and policy reform initiatives; improved access to quality primary, public education and assistance to at-risk youth; a model rural electrification program; and improving participation in democratic processes, while strengthening the judiciary and combating corruption across all sectors.[9]

 Uruguay See Dominican Republic–Uruguay relations
  • Uruguay has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Montevideo.
 Venezuela

The Dominican Republic and Venezuela have kept a very close relationship throughout the early 2000s. Currently,[when?] Venezuela is the biggest seller of oil to the Dominican Republic. In 2003, Venezuela was selling to the Dominican Republic approximately 110,000 barrels of oil per day, making for more than 75% of the daily oil consumption in the country, including cars, factories, and electrical plants. Today, the Dominican Republic gets around 50,000 barrels of oil a day from Venezuela under the Petrocaribe agreement, which includes most of the Caribbean countries.[10]

Due to the Dominican economy, the country cannot afford all this oil through cash, so to pay Venezuela for the oil, the Dominican Government makes payments not only in cash, but also by exporting goods like black beans to Venezuela and other things like selling bonds. The Dominican Government has to export so many beans to Venezuela, Over 10,000 tons, that it had to start to import some beans from foreign countries to provide the population with beans.[11]

In January 2015, the Dominican Government raised almost 2 billion dollars to pay off part of the debt they owed to Venezuela.[12] The Dominican Republic currently represents a 1.5 billion dollar year revenue to Venezuela just in the oil business itself, which is the reason why the Dominican Republic and Venezuela government have such a strong connection now that both countries are getting what they need from each other.

  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Caracas.
  • Venezuela has an embassy in Santo Domingo.

Asia[edit]

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Armenia 9 October 2007

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 October 2007.

 China 1 May 2018 See China–Dominican Republic relations and Dominican Republic–Taiwan relations

The Dominican Republic used to keep official relations with Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC). On May 1, 2018, the Dominican Republic's government announced that diplomatic relations with Taiwan is severed and diplomatic ties with People's Republic of China is established, and recognize Taiwan as an "inalienable part of Chinese territory".

  • China has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Beijing.
 India See Dominican Republic–India relations
  • India has an honorary consulate in Santo Domingo.[13]
  • Dominican Republic maintains an embassy in New Delhi.[14]
 Israel

Israel had provided aid and technical assistance and maintained some commercial, cultural, and diplomatic ties; in return, the Israelis often counted on the Dominican Republic to support their positions in international fora.[1]

  • Israel has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Tel Aviv.
 Japan
  • Japan has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Tokyo.
 Philippines
  • Dominican Republic is accredited to the Philippines from its embassy in New Delhi, India.
  • Philippines is accredited to the Philippines from its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.
 Qatar
  • Qatar has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Doha.
 South Korea 6 June 1962

The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Dominican Republic began on 6 June 1962.[15]

  • South Korea has an embassy in Santo Domingo.[16]
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Seoul.[17]
 Turkey
  • Turkey has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic is accredited to Turkey from its embassy in Berlin, Germany.
 United Arab Emirates
  • United Arab Emirates is accredited to the Dominican Republic from its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Abu Dhabi.

Europe[edit]

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Andorra 14 September 2000
  • Andorra does not have an accreditation to the Dominican Republic.
  • Dominican Republic is accredited to Andorra from its embassy in Madrid, Spain and maintains an honorary consulate in Andorra la Vella.
 Austria
  • Austria has an embassy office in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Vienna.
 Belgium
  • Belgium is accredited to the Dominican Republic from its embassy in Kingston, Jamaica.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Brussels.
 France
 Germany
  • Germany has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Berlin and a consulate-general in Hamburg.
 Greece
  • Greece is accredited to the Dominican Republic from its embassy in Havana, Cuba.
  • Dominican Republic has a consulate-general in Athens.
  Holy See
  • Holy See has an Apostolic Nunciature in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Rome to the Holy See.
 Italy
  • Italy has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Rome and consulates-general in Genoa and Milan.
 Netherlands
 Poland
  • Dominican Republic is accredited to Poland from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium.
  • Poland is accredited to the Dominican Republic from its embassy in Panama City, Panama.
 Portugal
  • Portugal is accredited to the Dominican Republic from its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Lisbon.
 Romania
  • Dominican Republic is accredited to Romania from its embassy in Rome, Italy.[18]
  • Romania is accredited to the Dominican Republic from its embassy in Bogotá, Colombia, and has an honorary consulate in Santo Domingo.[19]
 Russia
  • Russia is accredited to the Dominican Republic from its embassy in Caracas, Venezuela.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Moscow.
 Spain 1855 See Dominican Republic–Spain relations
 Sweden
  • Sweden is accredited to the Dominican Republic from a non-resident ambassador based in Stockholm.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Stockholm.
  Switzerland
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in Bern.
  • Switzerland has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
 United Kingdom 1850

The United Kingdom was the first country to recognize the Dominican Republic (1850).[22]

  • United Kingdom has an embassy in Santo Domingo.
  • Dominican Republic has an embassy in London.

Oceania[edit]

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Australia
  • Australia is accredited to the Dominica República from its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.
  • Dominican Republic is accredited to Australia from its embassy in London, United Kingdom.

Multilateral relations[edit]

The Dominican Republic is a founding member of the United Nations and many of its specialized and related agencies, including the World Bank, International Labour Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency, and International Civil Aviation Organization. It also is a member of the OAS, World Trade Organization, World Health Organization, World Customs Organization the Inter-American Development Bank, Central American Integration System, and ACP Group.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Richard A. Haggerty, ed. Dominican Republic: A Country Study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress, 1989.
  2. ^ Embassy of Argentina in Santo Domingo (in Spanish)
  3. ^ "Embajada de la República Dominicana en Argentina – Información consular y general para ciudadanos dominicanos en territorio argentino".
  4. ^ "Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, American Republics, Volume V".
  5. ^ "Countries with which Guyana has Establishment Diplomatic Relations – Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Co-operative Republic of Guyana".
  6. ^ "Inicio". embamex.sre.gob.mx.
  7. ^ "embadom – Otro sitio realizado con WordPress". Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  8. ^ El 10% de la población de Puerto Rico es dominicana from Univision 10 December 2008
  9. ^ "Dominican Republic". U.S. Department of State.
  10. ^ "VENEZUELA-DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Oil a Pawn in Bilateral Relations - Inter Press Service". www.ipsnews.net.
  11. ^ "Petrocaribe: Paying beans for Venezuelan oil". 27 March 2013 – via Christian Science Monitor.
  12. ^ "Venezuela Gets $1.9 Billion as Dominican Republic Pays Debt". Bloomberg.com. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  13. ^ Indian Honorary Consulate in Dominican Republic
  14. ^ "Dominican Republic". www.dr-embassy-india.com.
  15. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ "주 도미니카공화국 대한민국 대사관". overseas.mofa.go.kr.
  17. ^ "Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Korea". Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Korea.
  18. ^ "Embajadora Peggy Cabral presentó Cartas Credenciales ante Rumanía" (in Spanish). Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  19. ^ "Romanian Missions – Dominican Republic". Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  20. ^ "Coming Soon". www.embajadadominicana.es.
  21. ^ "Páginas - Embajada de España en República Dominicana". www.exteriores.gob.es.
  22. ^ "Dominican Republic".

External links[edit]