The State Department has begun discussions with members of the Organization of American States (OAS) to deploy troops from Latin America to help reduce organized crime and initiate a democratic transition in Haiti.

The State Department is developing a plan to combat the criminal gangs that control Haiti. This geopolitical initiative has two fundamental components : a deadly crackdown on criminal organizations and rigorous diplomatic work to guide the democratic transition.

The Trump administration has already contacted Albert Randim, the next Secretary General of the OAS, who has expressed openness to the State Department's proposal.

The Secretary General-elect has a historical precedent for convincing even the most reluctant OAS members: in 1965, at the request of President Lyndon B. Johnson, the OAS sent a contingent of the Inter-American Peacekeeping Force to the Dominican Republic.

Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Mexico might argue that this peacekeeping mission responded to the logic of the Cold War in Latin America, but in reality, it sets a precedent, and this time, it would be aimed at suppressing criminal gangs and strengthening institutions in Haiti.

The United States' decision to promote a diplomatic alliance with the OAS stems from the "failure" of the last UN-coordinated mission in Haiti, led by the Kenyan police, which proved powerless against Haitian criminal gangs due to a lack of adequate funding, personnel, and equipment.

The United States believes that multilateral responsibility should fall solely to the OAS, as it focuses exclusively on the regional agenda.

Pending Randim's official inauguration at the OAS, the State Department has already launched its offensive against the gangs. Two days ago, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designation of the "Viv Ansanm" gang coalition and the "Grand Grif" gang, the two main sources of instability and violence in Haiti, as foreign terrorist organizations and global terrorist organizations... https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44822-haiti-politic-us-designates-viv-ansanm-and-gran-grif-as-foreign-terrorist-organizations-official.html

The Biden administration's plan excludes U.S. troops in Haiti and will propose that certain countries in the region add their military or security forces. Argentina, Canada, and Colombia, among others, are on this short list.

The State Department intends for the potential OAS mission in Haiti to arrive in Haiti before the end of 2025.

SL/ HaitiLibre