Campos Pledges⁢ to ⁤Counter⁢ China’s Influence if Confirmed as Ambassador ‌to Dominican Republic

WASHINGTON – Leah francis Campos, nominated by former President Donald Trump to serve as the U.S.ambassador to the Dominican Republic, ⁣told members of Congress on Thursday that, if confirmed by the ‌Senate, she would prioritize countering the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the Dominican republic adn ⁣the wider region.

During her confirmation hearing,Campos stated⁣ she would “work tirelessly” to‍ diminish‍ the CCP’s reach. She ⁢also pledged to collaborate closely with the Dominican government ⁢to bolster border security and curb illegal immigration ⁣into the United States.

Campos ‌further committed to intensifying joint‍ efforts between U.S. and Dominican authorities to dismantle ⁣drug cartels and transnational criminal ‍organizations.

U.S. Absence and China’s Growing Presence

The Dominican republic has been without a U.S. ambassador for over four years. in 2018, the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Relations (Mirex) severed ties with Taiwan in favor of establishing relations with China.

Robert Thomas,Isiah Parnell,and Patricia​ Aguilera have headed U.S. diplomatic interests in the Dominican Republic during the absence of an ambassador; Aguilera currently holds the position.

campos acknowledged the Dominican Republic’s shift in ⁤recognizing Taiwan, stating, “It is obviously one of my key priorities‌ and as you know, RD changed ​its recognition of Taiwan in 2018…”

She recognized that the absence of a U.S. ambassador has allowed China to make inroads, including signing interstate agreements. Campos believes her nomination signals a renewed commitment to the Dominican Republic.

“We have not⁤ had an ambassador to the​ Dominican ⁤Republic in four years the ‍outstanding figures are usually ignored, and the Dominican Republic It is one of them.The proclamation of the president of his intention to nominate me as soon in the process, ⁣I think, transmitted a good message of the priority that we will give to that relationship,” Campos said.

Haiti’s Instability

Addressing the socio-political instability in Haiti, ‍Campos refrained from offering specific recommendations but expressed interest in working with the U.S. mission in Port-au-Prince and the ​Haitian government to find ‍solutions. she described the situation in ​Haiti as “worrying.”

Summit of the Americas

The dominican Republic is scheduled to host the X Summit of the Americas in⁢ December, bringing ‍together member countries⁢ of the Association of American States (OAS). Campos ​said that, if‌ confirmed, she would focus on ensuring the summit aligns with U.S. interests​ in maintaining stability, democracy, and security in⁢ the region.

“Combating crime ​in the​ region is an important issue that, in my opinion, would become a key issue at the summit,” she said.

The OAS member states include: Antigua and barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, ‌barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa‍ Rica, Cuba, Chile, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, United States, Granada, Guatemala, Guyana,⁤ Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragu San Vicente and Las Grenadinas, Santa Lucía, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, ⁤uruguay and venezuela.

Strong Bilateral Ties

Campos ‌emphasized⁣ the strong⁤ relationship between ⁣the people of the United States and the Dominican Republic, ‌highlighting the economic benefits of the partnership.

“More than 2 million Americans of Dominican⁢ descent ⁣reside in the United States and 5 million American tourists⁢ visit ​Dominican Republic every ⁢year. The United States enjoys a⁣ commercial surplus of more than 5.5 billion dollars with ‌the dominican Republic, with an annual trade of more than 30,000 million dollars ⁣between the two countries,” she said.

Campos’s nomination remains subject to further interviews and a‍ vote by the⁢ United states Senate.