The United States President Donald Trump’s administration has donated 20 additional armoured personnel carriers to bolster the peacekeeping mission in Haiti.
While confirming the arrival of the armoured vehicles on Thursday, February 20, the US Department of State revealed that the machinery was critical in combating gang violence in the war-torn country.
According to the United States government, the 20 armoured vehicles will be used by the 1000 Multinational Security Support (MSS) officers currently deployed in the Caribbean nation.
“The 20 additional armoured personnel carriers in Port-au-Prince are for bolstering the 1,000 MSS personnel in the country to improve security for the people of Haiti and the region,” the US government announced.
Footage shared by the American government showed the jungle-green vehicles being driven out of huge containers moments after they arrived in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince.
The move comes hardly a fortnight after Kenya sent an additional 144 police officers to Haiti to help fight the dreaded gangs. The officers who arrived in Haiti on February 7 included an elite all-female SWAT team.
Their arrival followed months after President William Ruto’s administration sent the third contingent to the Asian country, bringing the total number of Kenyan police deployed in Haiti to 744.
Besides Kenya, other notable contributors to the peacekeeping operation include Guatemala, El Salvador, Jamaica, and Belize, whose officers are also in Haiti for the United Nations-led mission.
Meanwhile, the latest development follows on the back of speculations that President Trump reportedly halted critical funding to the peacekeeping mission.
However, the US government was quick to dismiss the allegations, stating that the American government would continue funding the mission as it aligned with its broader security agenda.
Addressing the matter on February 6, the US Embassy in Haiti revealed that Trump’s administration would provide logistical contracts, including vehicle maintenance, and offer medical service equipment for the peacekeepers.
“The United States has not paused all assistance for the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti. On the contrary, Secretary Rubio approved waivers to allow for millions of dollars in mission-critical assistance to the MSS mission and Haitian National Police (HNP),” read part of a statement by the US Embassy in Haiti.