The Dominican Republic military has taken delivery of 18 new vehicles. The vehicles were formally handed over to the General Commanders of the Armed Forces during a ceremony presided over by Defense Minister Lieutenant General Rubén Darío Paulino Sem.

New Chevrolet pickup trucks delivered to the Dominican army (Picture source: Dominican Republic MoD )

The vehicles include 4 vans and 14 pickup trucks. They will be used to reinforce patrols and security along the border region with Haiti as part of President Danilo Medina Sánchez's plan to strengthen border patrol capabilities. According to Paulino Sem, another batch of vehicles are set to be delivered later this year. The country continues to take delivery of new equipment such as vehicles. The new vans and pickup trucks join a batch of HMMWVs delivered in January 2018.

The primary threats facing the Dominican Republic are transnational criminal groups. The country's location in the central Caribbean makes it an ideal layover for criminals trafficking drugs, weapons, and human beings. The Dominican Republic also faces instability spilling over from Haiti. Therefore, border security is one of the main focuses of the military.