WASHINGTON

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth will travel to the Dominican Republic on Wednesday to meet with top government and military officials in a move aimed at bolstering defense cooperation in the region.

Hegseth will meet with President Luis Abinader, Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Carlos Antonio Fernandez Onofre and Cabinet officials in Santo Domingo, the Pentagon said in a statement.

He will "reaffirm America’s commitment to defend the homeland, protect our regional partners and ensure stability and security across the Americas," it added.

This visit is part of a broader US strategy to enhance military partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean, reinforcing commitments to strategic allies while addressing shared security challenges.