The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, visited the country as part of his tour through Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Guatemala, where he met with Dominican President Luis Abinader. During their meeting, Rubio addressed the situation in Haiti, labeling the crisis in the country as the responsibility of its elites, and highlighting the importance of eradicating gang violence to restore stability and foster foreign investment.
According to the United Nations Office for Human Rights, in 2024 at least 5,601 people lost their lives in Haiti due to violence from criminal gangs. In light of this situation, the UN Security Council authorized a mission to support the Haitian National Police, led by Kenya, with the aim of combating armed violence in the country.
Rubio expressed that the United States will continue to support the multinational mission in Haiti to address the problem of armed gangs and promote security in the Caribbean nation. He also noted that the U.S. Congress is evaluating a law to incentivize foreign investment in Haiti, but emphasized that economic stability will only be possible once security in the country is guaranteed.
Regarding the Dominican Republic, Rubio praised the efforts made by the neighboring country in assisting Haiti, dismissing the possibility of mass migration from Haiti to the Dominican Republic. He stated that the United States will continue to support the multinational mission in Haiti both economically and logistically, despite the recent decision by former President Donald Trump to freeze aid to several countries.
Rubio highlighted the importance of international cooperation in resolving the Haitian crisis, stating that countries from other continents should also contribute to stabilizing the situation in Haiti.
