Haiti has decide to not to meet with the Dominican Republic or reopen a key commercial border crossing. This is putting trade to a halt as well as prolonging a diplomatic crisis over the construction of a canal on Haitian soil. The Dominican president had shut down all borders in sort of a protest to the construction of the canal. He claims that the building of the canal violates a treaty and will take up water needed by Dominican farmers. Haiti claims that they CAN build the canal and that they need it due to a drought. The Dominican president has since reopened some borders.
In my opinion, Haiti’s president should have at least agreed to meet with the Dominican president. This seems like a dispute that could have been calmed with some sort of conference, but instead they are communicating through statements. An OAS Secratary General has offered to facilitate a meeting between both sides which could be beneficial and hopefully mediate the issue between the 2 countries. Dominicans claim to need the water for crops but Haiti needs it for their drought, so this meeting could possibly find a solution to both issues.
This relates back to class because of foreign policies and how Haiti and the Dominican Republic are reacting regarding their foreign policies. International relations relys heavily on foreign policy because it is included in how every country functions. The process in which they make certain decisions, being free from danger and how they secure their country, etc. The future of this situation is still being discussed but it is defnitely something that needs to be conferenced about between the 2 countries to make a change that can satisfy the both of them.