El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has deployed over 2,000 troops to Haiti, accompanied by helicopters and armored vehicles, amid concerns for four Salvadoran aviation technicians who went missing earlier this month. The troops began arriving on October 23 after Bukele received a phone call from former President Donald Trump, who reportedly encouraged him to take action, according to an Axios report.
The technicians disappeared on October 18 when gunmen attacked their armored vehicle in Croix-des-Bouquets, a suburb of Port-au-Prince. In response to the incident, Bukele stated that the assault “is nothing compared to what is coming.” He emphasized that the Salvadoran mission in Haiti is not for financial gain but “to fight against the wicked.”
The Salvadoran troops are reportedly operating alongside the UN-authorized Gang Suppression Force (GSF) and Vectus Global, a private military group founded by Erik Prince. The situation has been described as a test for both Bukele and Prince as they serve as proxies for U.S. interests in the region.
The Biden administration has sought to minimize its involvement, with reports indicating that Secretary of State Marco Rubio aims to keep Haiti from receiving widespread attention. Bukele’s request for U.S. drones and transport planes was officially denied, though a U.S. military C-130 was used to transport the first Salvadoran troops to Haiti.
Colombia is also involved, with reports indicating that it acted as an intermediary on behalf of the U.S. On October 27, a Colombian Air Force C-130 transported Salvadoran troops and equipment from San Salvador to Port-au-Prince. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic has served as a logistical and intelligence support base, with a freighter transporting Salvadoran helicopters to Santo Domingo.
In a statement during the recent Coalition of the Americas Against Cartels (A3C) conference, President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic confirmed his coordination with Bukele regarding the operation. The coalition, which includes 19 governments and was founded in March, aims to combat organized crime in the region.
The increased military activity aligns with ongoing issues in Haiti, which has faced severe instability, including the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 and escalating gang violence that has led to thousands of deaths and displacements this year. An earlier Kenyan-led mission was unable to reach its personnel targets before withdrawing, leaving the GSF with insufficient forces to maintain order.
Humanitarian conditions in Haiti remain dire, with millions facing food insecurity. As part of his military operations, Bukele claims that 90 percent of the costs will be borne by El Salvador. However, his government’s budget cuts have led to massive layoffs of public employees amid an ongoing state of exception that has resulted in extensive arrests and alleged human rights abuses.
The complex network of military relationships and logistical support involving El Salvador, the U.S., Colombia, and the Dominican Republic marks a significant development in the region’s response to gang violence and instability. El Salvador’s involvement is seen as part of a broader strategy to counter perceived threats, as the humanitarian and social issues in Haiti continue to escalate.
