President Joseph R. Biden Jr. has set in motion the gears of diplomacy by announcing a presidential delegation to the Dominican Republic, a group slated to bear witness to the inauguration of Luis Abinader on August 16. The delegation, a blend of diplomacy and energy expertise, will be headed by the Honorable Jennifer M. Granholm, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, as reported by the White House.

Joining Secretary Granholm will be a host of dignitaries, among them Ms. Patricia Aguilera, holding the fort as Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo, alongside The Honorable Tom Perez, who juggles the roles of Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor and who is also the Captain of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. The delegation is further bolstered by The Honorable Alejandra Y. Castillo, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, and The Honorable Chris Dodd, the President's Special Advisor for the Americas; The Honorable Daniel P. Erikson rounds out the group as the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere at the National Security Council.

The delegation is expected to engage in a host of official duties and bilateral meetings that go beyond the pomp of inauguration: they will delve into discussions crucial for further cooperation between the two nations, which might include topics such as energy, trade, and security, the details of which are as yet to be articulated. The members of the delegation are expected to bring their varied expertise to the table, creating a mosaic of diplomatic dialogue poised to enhance the friendly relations between the United States and the Dominican Republic.