Several countries have offered to contribute to a Kenyan-led security force in gang-ravaged Haiti, the United States announced on Friday, pledging substantial logistical support for its part.
“We’ve got countries from every continent willing to contribute here to Haiti,” Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria J. Nuland said, reporting from a ministerial meeting on Haiti on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. "Ten to 12 came with concrete offers to this mission."
Ms. Nuland declined to name the countries, but Jamaica, the Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda have indicated that they will participate. Kenya, which has volunteered to lead the force, has offered to provide 1,000 security personnel.
US logistical support, but no boots on the ground
The US intends to provide substantial logistical support — airlift, communications, accommodation, medical — but no ground personnel.
Representatives from Kenya, France, Ecuador, Canada and Caribbean countries took part in Friday's ministerial meeting, called by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
The proposed mission would be able to help create a space for Haiti to move forward, Blinken said at the meeting. He said he hoped it could be “deployed within a few months” because “there is no time to lose”.
US aims to contribute $100 million
Violence by gangs, which control most of the capital of the poor Caribbean country, subjecting residents to a reign of terror, has left more than 2,400 dead since the start of the year, according to the United Nations.
The secretary of state also announced that US President Joe Biden’s administration would be asking Congress for $100 million to fund the force.
Ms Nuland said “there was very strong support" at the meeting for a draft U.N. Security Council resolution” drawn up by the US and Ecuador to pave the way for the deployment of the international force.
Force's deployment is no foregone conclusion
The draft is being circulated among the 15 members of the Security Council, who would have to approve the deployment.
While US officials have expressed cautious optimism about its passage, it is not a forgone conclusion since China has raised questions about the force and the need for a Security Council resolution on it.
Other countries have called for progress on the political front in Haiti, where talks between the government of Prime Minister Ariel Henri, the opposition and NGOs have stalled.
