Last week, a commission of the United States Congress made a series of visits to countries in Central America and the Caribbean, in search of strengthening their alliances, as well as seeking joint solutions to common economic and security problems, members of the Congress reported on Monday. the entourage
Said visit, concluded on Friday, would have been given in support of the signing, last July, of the memorandum of understanding to promote the Consultative Dialogue on Supply Chains and Economic Growth between the United States and the Alliance for Development in Democracy (ADD).
“Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Panama are strong allies of the United States and are deeply committed to democracy, the rule of law, trade, strong economies, and increasing quality of life for their citizens. And that stands in contrast to some of what we’re seeing in the region and around the world where there’s been a push back toward authoritarianism,” Senator Tim Kaine, chairman of the subcommittee on Western Hemisphere affairs, who was part of the congressional delegation together with representative Adriano Espaillat.
In Costa Rica, legislators met with President Rodrigo Chaves and US Ambassador Cynthia Telles to discuss how the relationship between the two countries can help address transnational crime, drug trafficking and migration issues.
“During our trip, we evaluated the implementation of US policies that promote international security, the protection of asylum seekers, and economic opportunity,” Espaillat said.
Legislators also met with NGO leaders to discuss the causes of migration and the situation of Nicaraguans in Costa Rica.
“We had a lot of discussions about the coup. [la] migration in two directions. From the south, recently from Venezuelans, but also the intense migration of Nicaraguans fleeing oppression. They made a very powerful case for us that they need help because of this rush of migration from both north and south,” Kaine said.
Also in Panama, they met with the Minister of Security, Juan Pino, to discuss the country’s response to the Venezuelan migration crisis, as well as the economic development of Panama and the impacts of climate change in the region.
Kaine and Espaillat visited migrant shelters in Panama City, where they reportedly met with “hundreds of Venezuelans”with whom they said they discussed the new humanitarian parole program implemented by the administration of President Joe Biden.
“Part of the discussion was also about people who were preparing to apply to be part of these 24,000 who can come to the United States under the humanitarian permit program where they can obtain a work authorization,” said Kaine, detailing that said Venezuelans expressed the challenges they pass on their way north.
There they would have also discussed China’s efforts to exert influence in the region. “Other nations of the world, including China, are not taking their eyes off the Americas. They are paying much more attention to it. So we need to pay more attention to the Americas, especially the nations that are doing things right,” Kaine said.
Finally, in the Dominican Republic, legislators met with President Luis Abinader, and participated in meetings with the Ministry of Defense regarding migration and regional security initiatives that directly impact US national security interests.
“We hear across the region that the US needs to do a better job of getting confirmed ambassadors to countries. We have done it in Costa Rica, we have done it now in Panama with María Carmen Aponte, but the Biden administration has not yet appointed an ambassador to the Dominican Republic and they need to do it and, hopefully, they will do it by the end of the year”, added the senator.
For his part, representative Espaillat, of Dominican origin, pointed out that the Caribbean country is “very concerned” about the insecurity situation in Haiti. “They are seeking and advocating very strongly for both the United Nations and the Organization of American States to support the national police in Haiti,” he said.
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