US Secretary of State Marco Rubio opened his remarks making it clear he had come for business. His first mention was about the talks regarding the rare earth elements found in southwestern Dominican Republic. The karst bauxite deposits in Pedernales are reported to have a wealth of minerals today highly valued for their optical and electrical conductivity properties. Since 2023, the US Army Engineering Corps have been studying the potential for their assessment and exploitation. The Las Mercedes site in southwestern Pedernales is the most promising.

ERDC assists the Dominican Republic in the exploration of Rear Easth elements. The Department of Defense (DoD) in collaboration with the Department of State (DOS) embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (DR) sent out an initial request for an Embassy Science Fellowship (ESF). The purpose of the ESF was to provide technical assistance to the DR government – specifically, the Ministry of Energy and Mining (MOEM) and the National Geological Service – in the geochemical exploration and potential exploitation of REEs in remote areas of the DR.

Bahoruco — The existence of rare earths in the country would have a transformative impact on the economy. The spokesperson for the Mining and Petroleum Chamber of the Dominican Republic (Camipe) said that “it would not only diversify our economy, which until now has depended on sectors such as tourism and agriculture, but it would also position the Dominican Republic in a strategic place within the global supply chain of critical minerals. This not only improves our competitiveness, but also puts us on the geopolitical and mineralogical map internationally.” He understands this figure is a reason for optimism for the nation, as it opens the door to new economic and technological opportunities.

Rare Earths Are Essential to 21st-Century Technologies. The group of so-called lanthanides (cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, and the eponymous lanthanum) as well as the two elements scandium and yttrium are referred to as “rare earths.”

Some of the Dominican Republic's most important Natural Resources include beautiful Beaches and Scenery, the Arable Land, Gold and other Minerals, Fish, and Water among others.

None of the other Caribbean Islands has such Charm, such an exotic and exuberant Zest for Living and such extensive, palm fringed Beaches