Maritime Navigation in the Caribbean: The United States Strengthens Its Position, the Dominican Republic Recalls the Rules, Haiti Is Notable for Its Silence

Port-au-Prince / Santo Domingo, April 21, 2026 — Barely 24 hours after an American initiative on port investments in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic is taking a firmer stance on compliance with international maritime law, within an increasingly sensitive regional context.

In an official statement, Dominican authorities affirm they are following “closely the evolution of the international environment, characterized by growing challenges,” emphasizing that these dynamics directly affect “global economic stability and the effective exercise of state sovereignty.”

Santo Domingo insistently recalls that “the right to navigation constitutes an essential principle of the contemporary international order,” highlighting its role in international stability and security.

Drawing on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Dominican Republic cites key principles:
“freedom of navigation,”
“innocent passage through territorial waters,”
and “transit passage through international straits.”

It insists that “These rights must be exercised with respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of coastal states” and warns against any deviation likely to compromise “regional stability or the international legal order.”

In a firm tone, the Dominican foreign ministry reaffirms “its commitment to strict compliance with international law,” and calls on states to “refrain from any measure limiting or violating freedom of navigation outside of legal frameworks.” “Freedom of navigation is an indispensable condition for economic prosperity and peace.”

This statement comes after an announcement by the United States Department of State, which brought together maritime stakeholders to strengthen investments in Caribbean ports. Washington announced $10 million in support for “resilient” infrastructure, with economic and security objectives.

Meanwhile, Haiti remains silent.

Since February 6, our editorial team has reported the repeated presence of American warships near the Haitian coast, a few nautical miles from Port-au-Prince, without any official reaction from the authorities. Yet, the legal framework is clear. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea establishes that territorial waters—up to 12 nautical miles—fall under the sovereignty of the coastal state.

However, it also authorizes “innocent passage,” allowing foreign vessels, including military ones, to cross these waters, provided the passage is continuous, expeditious, and non-threatening.

In this context, one question remains: do the movements observed off the coast of Haiti respect this legal framework, or do they reflect a more pronounced strategic presence?

While the Dominican Republic calls for “clear, predictable, and equitable” rules, Haitian silence fuels questions about the management of its maritime sovereignty in an increasingly tense geopolitical environment.

Editorial staff