A look at the American military intervention in the Dominican Republic on April 28, 1965

American military intervention in the Dominican Republic, located in Central America (in 1965), was carried out after escalating internal conflicts and acts of violence between left-wing and right-wing groups and the military in the Dominican Republic.

Apr 29, 2024 - 13:55

Apr 29, 2024 - 14:11

A look at the American military intervention in the Dominican Republic on April 28, 1965

On April 28, 1965, American troops entered the Dominican Republic and occupied the country under the pretext of protecting its citizens. But in a short period of time, 1,500 American Marines swelled to 40,000 and surrounded the Dominican Republic, supported by 37 warships.

In a televised address in early April 1965, then-US President Lyndon B. Johnson acknowledged that the Vietnam War was "dirty, brutal and difficult." However, on April 28 of that year, in a departure from the moral direction that had fueled his speech, Johnson dispatched a large contingent of U.S. Marines to Santo Domingo with the goal of crushing the nascent democratic revolution. Fear of the emergence of "another Cuba" (in Johnson's words) in America played a major role in Washington's decision to attack the small Caribbean country.

Johnson, in clear violation of the Charter of the Organization of American States, which prohibited direct or indirect interference in the internal or external affairs of any member country, sent a Marine brigade and the 82nd Airborne Division to the island nation.

On April 28, 1965, American troops entered the Dominican Republic and occupied the country under the pretext of protecting its citizens.

The United States invaded Santo Domingo under the guise of protecting American lives, when in reality the United States occupied the territory of the Dominican Republic to protect its economic interests and geopolitical influence.

American occupation forces arrested opponents of the American coup on the streets of Santo Domingo.

According to Roberto Cas, a historian and former revolutionary fighter, the democratic revolution and the war of national liberation of 1965 were among the most important events of Dominican society in the 20th century.

American officer during the Dominican occupation

Indeed, the Dominicans, like the people of Vietnam, demonstrated that a united people could mount tough resistance despite military weakness. Today the same thing is happening to the people of Yemen, who are resisting the domination of America and Britain. In April 1965, Dominicans and internationalist fighters from Haiti, France, Spain and Mexico joined a people's militia known as the Dominican People's Commandos to fight the imperialism, white supremacy, Western racism, military brutality and the genocidal lust of Washington's allies. Additionally, the invasion of the Dominican Republic caused international outrage.

Although the United States suppressed popular resistance and installed a puppet regime, the Dominican Revolution of 1965 left an important legacy of struggle. This popular action strengthened bonds of solidarity around the world and at the same time introduced a new generation to revolutionary and anti-imperialist politics.