The US plans to carry out "ground" attacks against drug traffickers

United States Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced during a visit to Panama that the U.S. government plans to execute ground attacks against drug traffickers in Latin America. This proposed strategy extends the administration's existing military tactics, which currently involve targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels in international waters under President Donald Trump's directives.

Simultaneously, a White House report released on Thursday identified approximately 40 countries, including the Dominican Republic, as transshipment hubs used to reroute Chinese goods into the United States to bypass tariffs. In response, the Dominican Association of Exporters (Adoexpo) defended local operations, stating that the U.S. accusations should not prompt premature conclusions regarding Dominican exporters.