Honduran President Nasry Asfura announced on Sunday in Santo Domingo that Honduras seeks to acquire military aircraft and armored vehicles assembled in the Dominican Republic.
Speaking during a joint press conference at the National Palace alongside Dominican President Luis Abinader, Asfura explained that the equipment is needed to strengthen Honduran security forces in their fight against drug trafficking, organized crime, and other threats.
Asfura stated that his administration is particularly interested in accessing Dominican military manufacturing capabilities, specifically highlighting the Dulus aircraft and Furia armored cars. He confirmed that he had already discussed the potential acquisition of this equipment with Abinader to enhance the technical, tactical, and operational readiness of both the Honduran National Police and the Honduran Military Police.
Inspection of Dominican Military Hardware
The announcement followed an official tour on Saturday at the San Isidro Air Base, where Asfura and Abinader observed the assembly line for the TS-7 Dulus aircraft and Furia armored vehicles. The Dominican Republic has been developing its domestic military industrial capabilities, recently deploying domestically assembled light aircraft for national defense and aerial monitoring.
San Isidro Air Base, located east of the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo, serves as the operational headquarters of the Dominican Air Force. The facility houses local manufacturing projects designed to provide cost-effective defense hardware tailored for regional security needs.
During the official visit, Asfura also reviewed the specialized security systems and defense infrastructure that the Dominican Republic maintains along its land border with neighboring Haiti. He commended the Dominican government for its defensive measures, noting that protecting national borders is essential for defending state sovereignty and safeguarding citizens.
Bilateral Cooperation and Signed Agreements
President Abinader confirmed that the two leaders signed a broad bilateral cooperation agreement at the National Palace. Although Abinader noted that the exact text of the agreement had not been read aloud during the press conference, he assured reporters that the document would be distributed to the press and covers nearly every topic addressed during their summit.
The signed instrument establishes formal bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors, including military affairs, sports, trade, investment, regional connectivity, tourism, culture, migration, security, democratic governance, and environmental challenges such as sargassum weed accumulation. The leaders also addressed the ongoing political and humanitarian situation in Haiti.
Abinader did not clarify whether the signed document contains explicit contractual terms for the immediate transfer or purchase of Dominican-built aircraft and armored vehicles. However, both governments affirmed that intelligence sharing and joint coordination against transnational organized crime and narcotics trafficking remain active pillars of their bilateral relationship.
Economic Policy and Future Sporting Events
The bilateral discussions also focused on international trade and global economic shifts. Delegations from both countries analyzed recent changes in international tariff policies, sharing their respective national experiences in navigating evolving global trade dynamics.
Beyond defense matters, Asfura expressed strong interest in drawing upon Dominican expertise in tourism development, public infrastructure projects, and athletic event management. Honduras is preparing to host the Central American and Caribbean Games in November 2029, a major regional multi-sport event that requires substantial logistical and infrastructure preparation.
The Dominican Republic previously hosted major regional athletic competitions and possesses extensive experience in managing large-scale tourism and sporting events. Honduran officials aim to incorporate these lessons as they build facilities and plan security protocols for the upcoming 2029 games.
