El Salvador sends troops to Haiti

El Salvador has sent more than 2,000 soldiers to Haiti, according to a report. The deployment began on October 18, following the disappearance of four Salvadoran military personnel in an ambush in Santo, northeast of Port-au-Prince.

Operation shifts focus

The operation has transformed a contingent of 125 pilots responsible for medical evacuations into a military operation involving more than 2,000 personnel from special forces, marine infantry, and support staff. The first troops landed in Haiti before the signing of an agreement with the government.

Trump encourages action

During a call on October 27, Donald Trump reportedly told El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele: "Do what you have to do." An agreement was reportedly signed the following day, Wednesday, October 28, the day Port-au-Prince emerged from a week of silence to discuss cooperation "within the framework of the FRG," the UN Security Council authorized military and police mission to combat armed groups.

Haitian gangs control large areas

The twenty most powerful Haitian gangs are estimated to have between 15,000 and 20,000 members combined, and the territories they control cover hundreds of square kilometers, including more than 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. With the Haitian National Police and an embryonic army, five forces now share this terrain, although little detail is available about joint planning.

Civilian impact and humanitarian crisis

Near Santo and neighboring neighborhoods, nearly 2,000 people have been displaced, and those who remain lack water, food, and medical care. In one week, Médecins Sans Frontières treated approximately 30 individuals injured by gunshot or drone explosion.

El Salvador’s strategy questioned

The Salvadoran initiative introduces the idea that a rapid and loosely coordinated deployment may be more effective in combating gangs than a multinational force. For countries contributing to the FRG, the question is deeper: if a state can send its own units outside a common framework, what is the interest in participating in a mission based on shared control and standards?

Trump’s justification and Bukele’s response

Trump justified the intervention by stating, "They killed some of his people," suggesting that the four Salvadoran soldiers reported missing were actually dead. Bukele shared the post on X, writing: "Can confirm."

Risks and potential outcomes

The operation could prove risky for Bukele, particularly if urban guerrilla warfare causes losses among Salvadoran forces. Conversely, the neutralization of one or more Haitian gang leaders could enhance the credibility of the Salvadoran leader in terms of foreign intervention, as several governments in the region are closely watching the situation in Haiti.