Port-au-Prince, Haiti – The United States has appointed Ambassador Henry Wooster to serve as Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Haiti, effective June 12. The announcement was made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who emphasized Wooster’s role in leading a comprehensive, interagency approach to U.S. policy in the crisis-stricken Caribbean nation.
“Ambassador Henry Wooster will take on the role of Chargé d’Affaires at the United States Embassy in Haiti beginning June 12,” Rubio said. “He will be instrumental in coordinating our whole-of-government response and working with international partners, providing critical support to Haitian security forces.”
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Wooster succeeds Ambassador Dennis Hankins, who retired after a period of dedicated service during one of Haiti’s most turbulent chapters.
A seasoned diplomat, Wooster brings decades of experience to the role, including prior service at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, a tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Jordan, and a background in the U.S. Army. Secretary Rubio praised Wooster as “the right person to lead this mission at a critical time,” citing his extensive leadership both in Washington and abroad.
The appointment comes at a time of escalating instability in Haiti, where criminal gangs—some with alleged political ambitions—have intensified efforts to destabilize the government. In recent weeks, the U.S. has re-evaluated its policy toward Haiti, criticizing the Organization of American States (OAS) for what Rubio described as insufficient action in the face of the growing crisis.
In a decisive move, Washington has designated Haiti’s powerful gangs, including Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif, as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists. “The age of impunity for those supporting violence in Haiti is over,” Rubio stated firmly.
The Secretary of State also estimated that between 35,000 to 40,000 individuals across various criminal factions are actively threatening Haiti’s sovereignty. “It is basically controlled by organized crime,” Rubio told the House Foreign Affairs Committee, adding that the U.S. government is conducting a “substantial review” of available policy options to address the unfolding crisis.
Ambassador Wooster’s appointment is seen as a strategic move to restore stability, reassert U.S. diplomatic leadership in the region, and coordinate closely with international allies and CARICOM member states. CMC
