This article covers the diplomatic relationship between India and the Dominican Republic (DR): when relations were established, the visits exchanged by ministers and senior officials, the Foreign Office Consultations and the two countries' engagement in multilateral initiatives led by India. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of July 2026.

Establishment of relations

According to the MEA brief of July 2026, diplomatic relations between India and the Dominican Republic were established on 4 May 1999 with the signing of a MoU. The brief describes bilateral relations as friendly and states that they continue to deepen in all spheres.

India opened its resident Embassy in Santo Domingo on 1 January 2022. The date on which the Dominican Republic opened its Embassy in New Delhi is given in this guide's practical article.

Visits from India

The visit of External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S Jaishankar from 27-29 April 2023 is, according to the brief, the highest level visit from India to the Dominican Republic to date. He called on President Luis Abinader, held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez, addressed a business event and delivered a talk on India's foreign policy.

During that visit, the EAM and Foreign Minister Álvarez jointly inaugurated the Indian Embassy in the presence of Vice President Raquel Peña, the President of the Senate, the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Higher Education. The Mahatma Gandhi statue and India Pavilion he inaugurated are described in the culture article.

Other visits from India recorded in the brief:

  • A delegation from the Election Commission of India, led by Mr. L. Kumar, Chief Electoral Officer, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Mr. Sushant Padha, District Election Officer, North & Middle Andaman District, made a study visit to the Central Electoral Board (JCE) of the Dominican Republic from 22-24 June 2026.
  • Minister of State Shri Pabitra Margherita visited from 15 to 17 August 2024 to attend the swearing-in of President Abinader on his re-election.
  • Minister of State for External Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan visited Santo Domingo from 25-27 August 2019.
  • Minister of State for External Affairs General (Rtd.) Shri V.K. Singh visited in February 2015.
  • Minister of State for External Affairs Dr. Shashi Tharoor visited from 23-25 January 2010.
  • Minister of State for External Affairs Shri Anand Sharma visited in February 2007.
  • Minister of State for External Affairs Shri Rao Inderjit Singh visited in September 2004. During that visit, the Dominican government announced its intention to upgrade diplomatic relations and open an Embassy in New Delhi.

Visits from the Dominican Republic

Vice President Raquel Peña paid an official visit to India from 3-5 October 2023. She called on the President of India, met the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the EAM, and held discussions with Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankar. She delivered the 45th Sapru House Lecture at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) and visited IIT Delhi.

Mr. José Ramón Holguín Brito, Vice Minister at the Presidency, visited India in April 2024 and met the Minister of State and Secretary (East) Jaydeep Mazumdar.

Earlier visits include:

  • Then President Dr. Leonel Fernandez Reyna attended the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit from 3-5 February 2011.
  • Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms. Clara Quinones de Longo attended the 2nd India-SICA Foreign Ministers' meeting in New Delhi in June 2008.
  • Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso visited in February 2006 at the head of a high level delegation that included the Ministers of IT and Investment, and of Higher Education and Science and Technology, a Deputy Tourism Minister and a 12-member business delegation.

Visits by Dominican vice ministers for trade and for defence matters are covered in the trade and cooperation articles.

Foreign Office Consultations

The first Foreign Office Consultations between the two countries were held when Secretary (West) M. Ganapati, with the Joint Secretary (LAC), visited the Dominican Republic on 22-23 August 2012.

The second round was held in Santo Domingo on 01 July 2022. It was led by Shri Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East), for India and by Amb José Julio Gómez, Vice Minister for Bilateral Relations of Foreign Affairs, for the Dominican Republic.

Multilateral engagement

On 13 Jan 2023, Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez took part in the Foreign Ministers' session of the virtual Voice of Global South Summit, organised by the Government of India as part of events under India's G20 presidency. Minister of Energy & Mines Antonio Reynoso took part in the Energy Ministers' session of the virtual Voice of Global South Summit 2.0 on 17 Nov 2023.

The Dominican Republic is a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). It ratified the ISA Agreement in August 2025, becoming a full-fledged member. It is also a member of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), whose work in the country is described in the cooperation article.