Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader announced that Leah Francis Campos, the new U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic, is set to arrive in the country later this week, after delaying her trip due to Hurricane Melissa. The president shared the update during his weekly press conference on Monday, though he did not specify an exact arrival date.
Campos was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 7, 2025, following a lengthy approval process, and recently shared a video of her official swearing-in. According to Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez, the ambassador had planned to meet with him last week to present a copy of her credentials and arrange the formal ceremony with President Abinader, but those plans were postponed due to the storm's impact.
With a notable background in politics and diplomacy, Campos previously worked at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and served as staff director for the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere from 2013 to 2015. She also ran for Congress in Arizona's 9th District in 2012. Her arrival marks the end of a four-year vacancy since Robin Bernstein, who last held the post in 2021.