US Military Ships Off Port-au-Prince: Washington Provides Clarifications

PORT-AU-PRINCE.— The notable presence of a US warship and several patrol boats in the Bay of Port-au-Prince continues to raise questions and speculation, in a Haitian political context marked by strong instability. As February 7 approaches, a symbolic date corresponding to the end of the mandate of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), the United States Embassy in Haiti issued official clarifications this Tuesday.

In a communication simultaneously disseminated in Creole, French, and English on its digital platforms, the American diplomatic representation specified that the vessels USS Stockdale, USCGC Stone, and USCGC Diligence made a stopover in the Bay of Port-au-Prince as part of an operation named Southern Spear, conducted under the instruction of the US Secretary of Defense.

According to the official note, this naval deployment reflects the unwavering commitment of the United States to the security, stability, and a better future for Haiti. Washington affirms that the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard intend, through this operation, to reaffirm their partnership with Haiti and their support for efforts aimed at strengthening the country's security and prosperity.

These clarifications come in a particularly tense political climate. A few days before the February 7 deadline, several political actors and organizations are seeking to impose their vision for the transition and the resolution of the crisis. Discussions held this Tuesday as part of the inter-Haitian Dialogue thus led to an agreement providing for the establishment of a new dual-headed executive.

According to the terms of this agreement, the transition would now be led by a three-member Presidential College, accompanied by a Prime Minister. The future Presidential College should be composed of a representative of the Transitional Presidential Council, a member of the Court of Cassation, and a representative of civil society. An institutional configuration which, far from being unanimous, is already fueling lively debates and concerns regarding governance and political stability in the coming weeks.

In this context of institutional fragility and persistent security crisis, the American naval presence, although presented as a mission of support and partnership, remains closely scrutinized by Haitian public opinion and the political class. Many observers question the diplomatic, political, and security implications of such a deployment at a pivotal moment in the transition.

Between official assurances and a climate of historical mistrust, this naval deployment is now at the heart of debates on Haiti's sovereignty, security, and political future at the dawn of a new phase of its unstable transition.

Jean Mapou / Le Relief