
WASHINGTON, CMC – The United States says it supports the statement issued by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries in which the 15-member regional integration grouping strongly condemned recent reports that criminal gangs in Haiti are threatening to overthrow the transitional government through violence.
The spokesperson for the US State Department, Tammy Bruce, in a brief statement, said, “Following discussions between the Secretary (Marco Rubio) and Deputy Secretary of State (Christopher Landau) with Prime Minister of Barbados and Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Mia Mottley, the United States supports the statement by CARICOM condemning any actions to destabilize Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council.”
Bruce said that Washington also “supports the efforts by the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission and CARICOM to assist the government in its efforts to bring peace and stability to Haiti in the face of armed criminal gangs.
The United Nations (UN) Security Council 2023 passed a resolution for the MSS to combat gang violence and restore stability in the country. Criminal gangs are seeking to take complete control of the capital, Port au Prince, and have launched several attacks, killing women and children, among others.
“The United States continues to consult with regional governments,” Bruce said.
On Sunday, regional leaders issued a statement condemning the efforts to overthrow the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) in the French-speaking CARICOM country.
The CARICOM leaders, who met virtually last Friday, described the threats as “completely unacceptable” and warned that any attempt to change the governance structure in Haiti forcibly would only worsen the country’s already dire humanitarian situation.
“These arrangements were put in place by Haitian stakeholders to pave the way for free and fair elections by February 7, 2026, and to return Haiti to constitutional authority,” the statement said, referring to the current transitional framework.
CARICOM also raised alarm over the rapidly deteriorating conditions in the country, citing figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). As of mid-January, over one million Haitians were internally displaced, and nearly 60,000 more have been forced from their homes in the last month alone.
“Increased violence will simply hurt those who are least capable of protecting themselves,” the regional body warned.
In response to the mounting threat, CARICOM confirmed it is in active discussions with Haitian authorities and international partners to provide urgent security assistance.
“CARICOM urges the international community, including the United Nations and the Organization of American States, to take all necessary steps to support the Haitian authorities as they address this crisis,” it said.