Secretary of State Marco Rubio with Alicia Ortega of SIN News

(Via translation.)

QUESTION:  Thank you for agreeing to this interview.  You have described Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba as enemies of humanity.  And now the seizure of the second plane from Nicolás Maduro’s regime.   What message is the United States sending to these undemocratic countries under this administration? 

SECRETARY RUBIO:  This specific plane was in violation of sanctions.  It was being used to violate sanctions, and that’s why everything – everything was based on a legal case in South Florida, through the Department of Justice.  We had the cooperation of the authorities here in the Dominican Republic.  There were two planes, but the second one, we are very grateful to the Dominican Republic for participating and cooperating with the U.S.  justice system.  And the message is that when there are sanctions because they are violating human rights, they are violating a whole series of things, traveling to Iran, helping countries that really wish harm to the United States.  That is why these sanctions are going to be applied and reinforced. 

QUESTION: Sanctions have done little in the past.  Will there be more aggressive action against these countries? 

SECRETARY RUBIO:  I think that – they’re wrong about that.  The purpose of sanctions is to prevent them from continuing to do what they are doing or to deny them sources of illegitimate income, whether from an individual or a regime or a terrorist organization.  That is the purpose of sanctions.  We would like to see democratic progress in these countries, and we would like to see democracy and the return of stability in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba.  That would be ideal.  Unfortunately, these countries are currently under the control of regimes that do not want that and do not allow that and have created instability in the government. 

QUESTION:  What do you expect from countries like ours in this (inaudible)? 

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Well, first to cooperate, and they have always cooperated against crime.  I believe that the connection between drug trafficking and individuals in the Venezuelan regime is clear and that must be enforced, and we are grateful for that.  But beyond that, it must always be clear that they are going to support human rights and the defense of democracy.  At the end of the day, being clear is important in foreign policy.  Unfortunately, the world is full of different regimes that are not democratic and sometimes we have to deal with some of them, but in other cases we have to be – we have to be very clear about what our policy is.  And in terms of the Dominican Republic, it has been clear to this administration and it has been – regarding President Abinader, and he has been an ally, not only against tyranny, he has been an ally against crime. 

QUESTION:  Let’s talk about Haiti.  You said that your government is committed to finding a solution to the situation in Haiti and you reiterated a commitment towards economic support.  But how high a priority is this crisis on the new government’s agenda and what actions are being considered as a result of the detailed information you received today? 

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Well, first, the actions are to continue supporting the mission that is there as well, recognizing that that mission in its – we all recognize it, and I think that mission as it is now is important because it gives support to the Haitian police.  But that is not enough to defeat these gangs and pacify the country.  We have to have a discussion between friendly countries about what else can be done.  Concrete actions that can be taken to achieve a solution.  It’s not an easy issue.  Nobody here has an easy solution, but I know that what we are doing now is important, but it is not enough.  And on the other hand, we also have to start thinking about the future, about what Haiti is going to be like in the future.  Because even if peace is achieved, we have to see a transition to a stable government and we have to look for opportunities to create sources of employment and income so that Haitians do not have to flee their own country. 

QUESTION:  You have said it yourself, and you repeated it just now, it’s not enough.  Could there be a change in President Trump’s administration policy that would include not only economic and humanitarian aid, but the sending of troops, given that the current strategy has not worked? 

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Well, the United States has had a long history of that and at the moment there are no plans to provide troops.  I don’t see it happening.  That is not one of the things that we are going to be able to provide.  There are many other countries that have the capacity to contribute and should contribute.  It would not be ideal for us to do that.  But we are willing to support a solution that works, with a clear mission to focus on defeating these gangs.  These gangs are not a massive army but they are well armed, they are very dangerous, and there is no future for Haiti as long as these gangs control large and important territories within Haiti’s national territory. 

QUESTION:  When the Foreign Relations Committee asked you about the countries in the region that the United States should continue to support, you mentioned our country, saying that people don’t talk enough about the Dominican Republic, praising the way we handled COVID and also the recovery of tourism.  What issues do you see as weaknesses? 

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Well, I don’t think it’s fair to talk about weaknesses.  I think there are challenges that all countries face, including the United States.  But you have to understand that there is a problem with drug trafficking, but you are doing a lot about that.  We have seen it, and we will continue to cooperate and even look for opportunities to expand.  There are sectors of society that still want to progress from an economic point of view, just like in the United States.  And I think we have to find a way to work together to expand those opportunities, whether in rare earths or in a whole range of opportunities in technology such as semiconductors, etcetera.  And I think that’s important.  Also to continue as much as possible to expand tourism.  But also the economic changes that this administration would like to see here, to expand beyond just tourism to other sectors of the new global economy and to support all of these efforts.  So we have to recognize what is being done as well as acknowledge that more can and should be done, and we will be there as partners to help. 

QUESTION:  With regard to drug trafficking, was it a request from the United States that they name the drug czar to work together with your country? 

SECRETARY RUBIO:  No, I think it’s a decision they made, your government.  But we support that decision and it’s important because it gives us someone we can work with directly.  It’s already being done – and there’s a lot of cooperation and we’ll be looking to expand.  And I always believe that – (inaudible) one of the things we asked for several months ago, because we are looking for someone to coordinate the response in the hemisphere and we thought, at the time, that because (inaudible) the Dominican Republic has made so much progress in its fight against drugs, its historic seizure last year, we believed that it was the ideal government and partner to take on this responsibility and for us to work together with them. 

QUESTION:  So you did ask for a czar. 

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Well, it seems that they asked that in the trial and administration, but we support the decision they made on the day to appoint him.  And I would like to reiterate that I think it’s a positive thing because it gives us a point of contact through which we can coordinate.  

QUESTION:  It is estimated that some 190,000 undocumented Dominicans reside in the United States and more than 12,000 are already flagged for criminal records and ready for deportation.  Will these deportations be gradual or on a massive scale? Have you discussed the logistics with President Abinader? 

SECRETARY RUBIO:  No, it hasn’t been discussed because the figure is lower in comparison to other countries.  Do you know what I mean? But – but in the end, all countries in the world have an obligation, under international treaties, to accept their nationals who are residing illegally in another country.  And I don’t think there’s any resistance to that.  Obviously, the administration is prioritizing very dangerous people, (inaudible) criminals, but at the end of the day, all countries have an obligation to accept their nationals and I don’t think we have ever had any resistance from the Dominican Republic on that. 

QUESTION:  What will be the role of the CBP or Customs and Border Patrol agent you mentioned at the press conference who will be sent to the country? 

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Yes.  Well, he is a liaison, (inaudible) he is a person who will be working together and alongside the National Police Command and the importance is that there will be more resources to be able to coordinate all the information we have.  For example, a fast boat approaching, which we see coming from another country, any kind of suspicion we have that a shipment may contain drugs, and someone who is physically there with them to pass on that information and help coordinate efforts to prevent those drugs, which in many cases may be destined for the United States, so it can be stopped and confiscated. 

QUESTION:  There is a certain fear that the United States will ask our country to accept nationals who are not from here, who are from other countries, as has happened in Central America.  Is this something that (inaudible) —  

SECRETARY RUBIO:  No, that hasn’t – that hasn’t been discussed and it really hasn’t been asked.  Some countries have the capacity to do that.  This country doesn’t because it is already facing massive migratory pressure from Haiti.  No country could absorb the numbers that would come if that were to open up.  So – everything – the conditions of each country, the capacity in terms of migration is different, so that has not been discussed with the Dominican Republic. 

QUESTION:  How do you deal with the dichotomy of being the son of immigrants, the grandson of a man who had a deportation order against him at one point in the United States, and now representing an administration with an aggressive policy towards illegal immigration and deportations, which in the past you have said was difficult to achieve? 

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Well, it’s difficult, but there has never been a wave of migration like the one we are experiencing now.  We are talking about millions of people in the last four years.  Each period is different from the last.  When during a period – when there is a large number of – ten or 15 years ago, the majority of people who were in the United States illegally were people who had entered with a visa.  The visa had expired and they never left.  But now we have a human wave that has crossed our borders.  It is a time of enormous insecurity.  Obviously, the majority are people who are looking for more opportunities, but if 1 percent – only 1 percent of millions are criminals, are terrorists, are people who are going to commit crimes, that is an enormous danger for any country.  And it’s not only affecting the United States.  We have seen the wave of migration that is also affecting, for example, Europe, and on a daily basis what the Dominican Republic is facing with Haiti.  So I would say that we are living in a different era to what existed ten years ago – not to say 40 or 50 years ago. 

QUESTION:  Traditionally, there has been a perceived lack of U.S.  policy towards Latin America in general.  What would be the policy towards this region, especially now that you are the first Hispanic to hold the position of secretary? 

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Well, to pay attention and to pay positive attention.  That is to say we are going to work together with our allies.  Sometimes I think that – our allies in the region, our partners in the region, have been ignored to a certain extent, and have not seen the benefits of allying themselves with the United States.  And we have paid a lot of attention to them.  We do pay attention to this region, to governments that sometimes go against us or wish to harm us, or that do not cooperate.  Meanwhile, I believe that we have, to a certain extent, either ignored, and in some cases unduly punished governments that cooperate with us.  So the time has come to change that policy, because at the end of the day what happens in this region is going to impact us directly sooner than something that is happening in another part of the world. 

QUESTION:  Who has not been ignored and has gained a lot of ground has been China.  And when you talked about the investment in rare earths and that potential trade exchange you said you would prefer it to be in the hands of the United States and not other countries.  We assume that it is China.  What does it mean that the government of the Dominican Republic broke with Taiwan years ago and established relations with China? 

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Well, diplomatic reasons are one thing.  Investments are another.  Investment in China has been disastrous for many countries.  But we also understand those rare earth resources belong to the Dominican people, not to the United States.  What would be positive is to have a nearby ally country that has those deposits and that is not on the other side of the world, under the control of China or a country allied with China or under the control of China.  Because we know that they are using rare earths to blackmail and control countries that do not cooperate with their agenda.  So it would be a very positive thing if we can work on that initiative and provide what is necessary so that the Dominican Republic can benefit from its own resources, which belong to the Dominican Republic, not to the United States. 

QUESTION:  How are you measuring the impact at the level of ordinary citizens, do you know what I mean, regarding the strategy of these tariffs, which also affect the entire region and, above all, our health? 

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Well, that is obviously a diplomatic issue, a trade issue.  President Trump thinks, and I think most Americans agree, that we should have equality in the way we deal with other countries.  It is not acceptable for a country, for example, to prevent the entry of American products.  Or on the other hand, you have to accept it in everything it does.  That is obviously the case with China.  Chinese companies can do almost anything in the United States, while American companies are very limited in what they can export to China.  In the case of Mexico, in the case of Canada, there is concern about a very serious situation at the border with cartels that have taken over the territory and so on.  That has been suspended.  We are in talks with our friends in Mexico and Canada to see what we can do to address the president’s concerns about fentanyl, drugs, illegal immigration from the south. 

QUESTION:  We end with these five days of travel that have taken you to five countries in Central America.  Your message to these countries and what this represents in terms of U.S.  policy. 

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Well, it’s also no coincidence that these are countries, apart from Guatemala, where we had a good visit, but in terms of El Salvador and Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic, these are countries that have expressed the desire to work together to defend democracy, the law, respect for human rights, economic progress.  These are countries that have already declared their willingness to work together and are also prepared to work with us on this issue, and it has been very positive in Guatemala also.  So I think the message was my first trip as Secretary of State, and that it was to the region in which we live, the region where when there is a problem, we feel it, and when there is an opportunity to do something positive in those countries, it helps us too.  So that is the message, that the United States is going to focus and pay close and positive attention to this region. 

QUESTION:  Thank you so very much.  

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Thank you very much.