It is a Central American country sharing the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. Located in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region, it occupies the eastern part of the island. The country is one of the two Caribbean islands, along with Saint Martin, which is shared by two sovereign states. The Republic is the second largest nation in the Antilles after Cuba with a land mass of 48,671 square kilometers. It is also the third largest in terms of population, having around 10.7 million people, of whom 3.3 million live in the capital city, Santo Domingo. The territory is part of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the Central American Integration System (SICA).
if you are interested in knowing about the diplomatic relations of this republic, this article provides information on the foreign diplomatic relations of the Dominican Republic and other multilateral relations.
About the country
The Republic has the largest economy according to the World Bank, in the Caribbean and Central American region. It is the seventh-largest economy in Latin America and the fastest-growing economy in the Western Hemisphere. Recent development in the country is greatly influenced by construction, manufacturing, tourism, and mining. The country has the third largest gold mine in the world, the Pueblo Viejo mine. Its economy which was formerly reliant on the exportation of agricultural commodities has advanced to a diversified mix of services, manufacturing, agriculture, mining, and trade. The service industry accounts for almost 60 percent of the GDP. The Republic has a stock market, Bolsa de Valores de la República Dominicana (BVRD), and a highly advanced telecommunication system and transport network. It faces long-term problems like high unemployment and income inequality. International migration affects the Republic largely with the annual mass illegal Haitian immigration.
Countries with diplomatic relations
Tourism is a huge source of income for the economy thanks to the country being the most visited destination in the Caribbean. In 2006, it ratified the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) between several Central American countries and the US. It also has diplomatic relations with many countries in the world. They include the following nations: Guyana, New Zealand, Zambia, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Mexico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Ghana, Fiji, Canada, France, Panama, Australia, Colombia, Nigeria, Uruguay, Bolivia, Turkey, Spain, Venezuela, etc. It has strong relations with the UK as well as diplomatic missions in Canada, Venezuela, Cuba, etc.
Bilateral relations of the country
This island nation has a close relationship with the United States, and strong cultural ties with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and other states and jurisdictions of the US. Its relationship with neighboring Haiti is strained because of the mass migration of Haitians to the Republic, leading to an increase in crime and other social problems. The territory is a full member of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie. The island has a Free Trade Agreement with the US Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua through the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement. It also has an Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU and the Caribbean Community through CARIFORM, the Caribbean Forum. A large number of Dominican diasporas reside majorly in the United States and send billions of dollars to Dominican families in remittances. This is a contributor to the development of the economy. An increase in the bilateral relations between the state and the UK since establishing bilateral relations has led to better partnerships and trade between them.
