United States Secures Additional Forces For Haiti, After Partial Kenya's Withdrawal

United States Secures Additional Forces For Haiti, After Partial Kenya’s Withdrawal

The United States of America has pledged 7,500 personnel to strengthen the Haiti Gang Suppression Force, just weeks after Kenya sent an additional 230 specialized officers to Haiti.

In a press event on December 19, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that countries have offered up to 7,500 security personnel, well beyond their initial projections of 5,500 troops.

“We were looking for 5,500 forces. We already have pledges of up to 7,500 forces from a variety of countries,” Marco Rubio said.

C'est le Secrétaire d'État Américain, Marco Rubio qui a fait l'annonce ce vendredi. Plus de 7 500 soldats ont déjà pris l'engagement à intégrer la force de répression des gangs qui sera déployée en Haïti. Pas moins de 18 pays seraient déjà prêts à porter leur contribution. pic.twitter.com/hDMxP10pRs
— Christophe Noël Journaliste (@noel104_noel) December 20, 2025

The United States also announced that donor funding for the gang suppression forces effort had risen.

“We’ve seen donors step up to fund that effort. That’s a very important effort. It all ties together cohesively,” Rubio further said.

The United Nations Security Council voted in September to expand the size of Haiti’s 15-month-old security operation, renaming it the Gang Suppression Force.

The Kenya-led Haiti Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) was underfunded and understaffed, requiring the UN to intervene.

Kenya has been a reliable partner to the U.S. as we pursue peace and security both in Africa and Haiti. When I met with President @WilliamsRuto in New York, we discussed U.S.-Kenyan security co-operation and opportunities to increase U.S. commercial investment in Kenya. pic.twitter.com/CcJQbIULoH
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) September 25, 2025

The MSS relied on voluntary contributions from governments rather than on UN financing. As of late 2025, funding collected did not cover the $600 million annual budget requirement.

On December 8, Kenya sent an additional 230 specialised police officers to Haiti to assist with gang repression, along with other security forces from other nations.

The MSS forces, along with the Haitian National Police and the country’s military, effectively reclaimed critical infrastructure, including the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, the National Hospital, and the major National Police Station, from gang control.

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The MSS also restored strategic Routes and cleared gangs from major roadways, including the vital route leading to the Dominican Republic, which had previously been blockaded.