Relationship dossier
Dominican Republic
Haiti
Relationship assessment
A close, interdependent relationship repeatedly strained by border, migration and shared-water disputes.
Dominican Republic toward Haiti
-40The Dominican government has used border closures and restrictions during disputes with Haiti, including the 2023 Massacre River canal dispute, and has pursued a border wall and deportations of Haitian migrants. These actions have repeatedly strained bilateral relations.
Haiti toward Dominican Republic
-25The Haitian government has pursued construction of an irrigation canal on the Massacre River, a project opposed by the Dominican government and a source of bilateral tension. Haitian authorities have also engaged in dispute-related talks with the Dominican Republic.
Overall relationship
-35The relationship is shaped by enduring cross-border interdependence alongside recurring disputes over migration, border controls and shared water resources. The 2023 canal dispute and Dominican border measures illustrate how quickly disagreements can disrupt ties. Sustained cooperation is less clear than the recurring sources of friction.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
The Dominican Republic and Haiti have a deeply interconnected but frequently tense relationship, shaped by border management, migration, trade and disputes over shared water resources. Dominican border closures, construction of a border wall and deportations have strained ties. Haiti’s construction of an irrigation canal on the Massacre River also triggered a serious dispute and Dominican border restrictions. The two governments have engaged over these issues, but the breadth and implementation of bilateral cooperation are unclear.
Areas of tension
- Dominican deportations of Haitian migrants and treatment of migrants at the border.
- Dominican border controls and construction of a border wall.
- The Haitian irrigation canal on the Massacre River and interpretation of water-sharing arrangements.
Key developments
The Dominican Republic closed its border with Haiti amid the dispute over Haiti’s construction of an irrigation canal on the Massacre River.
The Dominican government announced plans to build a wall along the border with Haiti.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of bilateral agreements on migration and border management are unclear.
- The status of the Massacre River canal dispute and related bilateral engagement may have changed.
- The extent of sustained government cooperation beyond crisis-related talks is unclear.