Dominican Republic-Haiti border security cooperation

The Dominican Republic and Haiti have initiated a bilateral roadmap to enhance border governance, security, and economic cooperation. Foreign Ministers met in Dajabón to discuss migration management, judicial cooperation, and the combatting of illicit financial networks. Both nations expressed a shared need for international support for the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) to help Haitian authorities neutralize gang control. Efforts have expanded to include physical infrastructure and security measures. Authorities are coordinating repairs for the binational bridge connecting Dajabón and Juana Méndez to facilitate the movement of goods and people. Haitian Governor Daniel Germain emphasized that infrastructure maintenance is a “shared responsibility essential for the movement of people, merchants, and goods.” Concurrently, the Dominican Republic is implementing its ‘Frontière Forte’ (Strong Border) program. This includes the construction of perimeter fencing, watchtowers, and the deployment of drone surveillance and solar lighting to curb smuggling and illegal activities. Approximately 55 kilometers of fencing have been erected, with a new 14.5-kilometer section currently under construction in the Hoya de Enriquillo area. The Dominican Ministry of Defense stated these measures aim to facilitate “safer, more orderly cross-border trade.” Under President Luis Abinader, the administration has utilized military presence, migration controls, and an intelligent perimeter fence equipped with electronic surveillance and biometric systems. Between January and August 2026, the Dominican Republic deported 265,412 irregular migrants, the vast majority of whom were sent to Haiti. At a United Nations meeting in New York, Dominican Foreign Minister Víctor Bisonó called for an integrated approach to Haiti’s stability, arguing that security interventions must be synchronized with institutional reconstruction and economic development. Bisonó highlighted a significant shortfall in the GSF, noting that as of July 2026, only 1,083 officers had been deployed out of a required 5,550.