The U.S. military executed a nocturnal operation to withdraw personnel and reinforce security at the embassy in Haiti, indicating the escalating crisis in Port-au-Prince. At the behest of the U.S. State Department, military forces transported U.S. staff to and from the embassy, as detailed in a statement from the U.S. Southern Command early Sunday. The operation aimed to maintain embassy functions and facilitate the departure of non-critical staff, the statement noted. The aircraft did not carry any Haitian nationals.
The situation in the Caribbean nation has rapidly deteriorated, plunging into turmoil as gangs took control of the capital, pushing the government to the brink of disintegration. These gangs have besieged police stations and prisons, plundered seaports and government buildings, and forced the closure of the airport, severely hindering the delivery of essential goods, including food. The crisis has left Prime Minister Ariel Henry marooned in Puerto Rico, amidst calls for his resignation by gang factions.
The violence reached a new peak over the weekend, with gangs orchestrating significant assaults on no less than three police outposts. In response to the escalating crisis, Caribbean leaders urgently convened for a meeting scheduled for Monday in Jamaica, addressing what they described as Haiti’s “dire” condition. Efforts are underway by Caribbean countries and the United States to devise a solution to the crisis.
Last year, Kenya declared its intention to spearhead a multinational police effort aimed at stabilizing the situation in Haiti, with financial support from the U.S. However, this mission has faced postponements due to legal obstacles.
Concurrently, the Biden administration has been evaluating alternative strategies for several months, as revealed by a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity about the delicate matter. The United States has opted against deploying its military forces for intervention, choosing rather to support and motivate international allies to tackle the crisis independently, the official explained.
Recently, there has been growing apprehension that the situation may require more immediate action due to the escalating crisis on the ground, an official noted.
The U.S. military’s recent deployment likely includes additional Marine security guards tasked with bolstering the embassy’s defense in Port-au-Prince.
The Department of Defense stands prepared to offer logistical and strategic support to the Kenyan-led multinational initiative, providing a range of services such as planning aid, intelligence sharing, transport, communication facilities, and medical assistance, as per Southern Command’s statements.
Southern Command has also emphasized that the embassy is dedicated to promoting U.S. government initiatives aimed at aiding the Haitian populace. This includes rallying support for the Haitian National Police, hastening the dispatch of the United Nations-sanctioned Multinational Security Support mission, and expediting a peaceful power transition through democratic elections.