Russia, Dominican Republic Bilateral Relations: September 2025 Updates

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has met with Roberto Alvarez, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

They discussed key aspects of bilateral collaboration across political, trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian spheres. Both parties acknowledged a mutual interest in further enhancing the potential of Russian-Dominican relations.

Bilateral ties have been developing recently as Moscow seeks to expand its influence in the Caribbean and Latin American regions. Lavrov visited the Dominican Republic in May.

The Dominican Republic is strategically important for Russia as it looks to increase support amongst United Nations members for reform within the bloc.

The Dominican Republic is the second-largest nation in the region by area after Cuba and the second-largest by population after Haiti. The Dominican Republic’s major trading partners include the United States, Switzerland, Haiti, India, and China for exports, and the United States, China, Brazil, Mexico, and Spain for imports. The United States is the single largest trading partner for the Dominican Republic, with a significant portion of its exports going there.

During the last three decades, the Dominican economy, formerly dependent on the export of agricultural commodities (mainly sugar, cocoa, and coffee), has transitioned to a diversified mix of services, manufacturing, agriculture, mining, and trade. The service sector accounts for almost 60% of GDP; manufacturing, for 22%; with tourism, telecommunications, and finance being the main components of the service sector.

The Dominican Republic has a population of about 11.5 million and a relatively high GDP (PPP) per capita income in excess of US$30,000. Its total GDP is US$333.5 billion.

The two countries have been discussing putting in place direct charter flights to service the tourism sector during the winter months. Russia is also looking at opening an Embassy in Santo Domingo.

Bilateral trade is currently running at less than US$10 million, with Russia exporting mainly fertilizers and the Dominican Republic exporting rum, cocoa, and cigars. However, Dominican export opportunities are not limited to these products. The Dominicans are ready to increase supplies of fresh fruits and vegetables, coffee, and other agricultural products to Russian shelves.