The United States has secured pledges for as many as 7,500 security personnel to support a new international force aimed at suppressing armed gangs in Haiti, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Rubio said the commitment exceeds initial expectations. The United Nations Security Council agreed in late September to more than double the size of the existing international security mission in Haiti and formally reclassify it as a gang suppression force.
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“We were looking for 5,500 personnel, and we already have pledges of up to 7,500 from a variety of countries,” Rubio said. “We have also seen donors step forward to fund that effort.”
Haiti has been gripped by escalating violence as heavily armed gangs, many supplied with illicit weapons originating in the United States, have taken control of most of the capital, Port au Prince. The ongoing conflict has displaced approximately 1.3 million people and worsened food insecurity across the country.
In August, UNICEF reported that children account for an estimated 50 percent of gang members in Haiti, underscoring the severe social consequences of the crisis.
The United States and Canada hosted a closed door pledging conference at the United Nations on December 9 to mobilize international support for the expanded force. In a joint statement, the two countries said that 18 governments and organizations committed personnel, financial resources, and technical assistance.
The original Multinational Security Support mission, led by Kenya, began deploying forces to Haiti in June 2024. However, the mission has struggled with funding shortages, limited staffing, and logistical challenges, limiting its effectiveness against violent gangs. Several of these groups have since been designated as terrorist organizations by Washington.
International officials hope the expanded and restructured force will strengthen security operations and help stabilize Haiti as the country confronts one of the most severe crises in its modern history.
