Dominican President Luis Abinader and his Honduran counterpart, Nasry 'Tito' Asfura, toured the border with Haiti on Saturday, where the Dominican Republic is building a wall to strengthen control over migrant, drug, and arms trafficking. Asfura praised the Dominican Republic's advances in border security and the military industry, calling it an example for Central America and the Caribbean. Abinader explained that the visit aimed to share the Dominican experience in security and border control with his Honduran counterpart.
The Dominican Minister of Defense, Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre, explained that the government launched the 'Frontera Fuerte' strategy in 2020, which includes strengthening infrastructure, deploying the military, and incorporating technology to monitor the border. So far, 55 kilometers of fencing have been built, including 38 kilometers on the northern border, as well as sections in Elías Piña, Independencia, and Pedernales. The infrastructure includes 1,500 solar lights, fiber optic cables, intelligent cameras, and a drone network controlled from the Defense Ministry's control center.
Additionally, 11,000 military personnel are deployed along the defense lines, with equipment to reinforce surveillance and patrol duties. Abinader and Asfura also discussed expanding cooperation, trade, and investment between their countries.