Why The United States Assigned Its Southern Command Chief In Santo Domingo

The highest-ranking woman in the U.S. Army, Laura Jane Richardson, a four-star general, and the Chief of the Southern Command of the U.S. Army, is now stationed in the Dominican Republic, Diario Libre reported.

With the Mission "Continuing Promise 2022," the USNS Comfort hospital ship travels through the waters of the major countries of the Americas with which the United States has the closest relations. Commander Richardson is in the Dominican Republic intending to visit the humanitarian mission carried out by the ship.

Richardson would also meet with representatives of the security sector with whom she would discuss cooperation between the U.S. and the nation in this regard.

She arrived after the USNS Comfort hospital ship docked in Dominican waters, which plans to carry out work in the country from Nov. 29 until Dec. 5, according to the announcement made by the Southern Command on its official Twitter account.

According to a message sent by the U.S. Embassy, "The hospital ship USNS Comfort will visit Santo Domingo and Azua, where it will offer free medical care as part of the United States support for the region."

The consultations will take place at the Azua Sports Center and the Volleyball Pavilion of the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center. Services in general medicine, pediatrics, optometry, and dentistry will be available.

According to the information offered, people will be served in order of arrival.

Consultations will be from 10:00 in the morning to 3:00 in the afternoon in the province of Azua, until Dec. 4. While in Santo Domingo the services will be offered from 9:00 in the morning to 4:00 in the afternoon, until Dec. 5.

In addition, next week the ship will be in Haiti to provide free medical services to the neediest people.

Richardson arrives in the country after the United States Customs Service put an impediment to the unrefined sugar ships from Central Romana, considering that its workers are subjected to slavery practices, which has caused a general rejection of all sectors of the country.

Her arrival is also at a time when a report reveals that members of the dangerous Mexican cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación operate and are increasing in number in the Dominican Republic, and maintains that its members operate from the Cibao region.