(DailyChive.com) – Haiti’s recent descent into chaos, marked by interim Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s resignation, is raising alarm bells in Washington. Experts warn that a failed Haitian state could seriously threaten US national security.
The assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 plunged Haiti into a spiral of violence and instability. Rampant gang activity, coupled with unchecked corruption and poverty, has created a humanitarian crisis. This crisis has taken a devastating toll on the people of Haiti, with gang violence claiming over 3,700 lives and gangs now controlling a staggering 80% of the capital – Port-au-Prince.
The situation has become so dire that it led to the shutdown of the main airport and the release of thousands of inmates from prison.
Beyond the immediate suffering of the Haitian people, experts fear a domino effect on US security. A mass exodus of Haitians fleeing the violence could overwhelm US borders. In 2023 alone, 70,000 Haitians sought refuge at the US-Mexico border, highlighting the potential for a larger migration wave.
However, concerns extend beyond migration. Eddy Acevedo, a former national security advisor for USAID, emphasized that a failed state controlled by criminals and gangs on the doorstep is not in the national interest. He cautioned that a lawless Haiti could potentially become a haven for drug traffickers, thereby creating a staging ground for operations closer to US soil.
Another primary concern is the potential for instability to spill over into neighboring countries like the Dominican Republic, a key US ally. Juan Cruz, a former National Security Council official, emphasized the region’s interconnectedness, stating that a chaotic Haiti destabilizes the entire Caribbean.
US officials are scrambling to find solutions – Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently urged Kenya to fulfill its pledge of sending a 1,000-strong police force to Haiti as part of an international security mission. Additionally, the US is working with allies like Brazil, Canada, and France to push for establishing a transitional government to quell the violence.
However, experts express a sense of déjà vu. Cruz highlights that numerous Western nations, including the US, have previously intervened in Haiti, achieving limited success. He notes that they have experienced similar situations, and the outcomes have not been favorable.
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