US Embassy confirms warships in Haiti’s water amid political deadline and gang violence

PORT-AU-PRINCE — The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince confirmed Tuesday that the three American naval vessels in Haitian waters are operating as part of a security mission to support stability in Haiti. The deployment comes as gang violence escalates and the Feb. 7 expiration of the Transitional Presidential Council’s mandate is days away.

The ships — the USS Stockdale, USCGC Stone and USCGC Diligence — arrived under Operation Southern Spear, according to an embassy statement issued after images of the vessels circulated widely on social media on Feb. 3, prompting widespread reaction of Haitians across the world.

“At the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the USS Stockdale, USCGC Stone and USCGC Diligence have arrived in the Bay of Port-au-Prince,” the embassy said.  “Their presence reflects the United States’ unwavering commitment to Haiti’s security, stability and brighter future.”

U.S. officials described the deployment as a deterrence and support mission, not a direct military intervention.

The arrival signals heightened U.S. attention at a moment of overlapping crises: expanding gang control, stalled political negotiations and uncertainty ahead of the Feb. 7 expiration of the Transitional Presidential Council’s mandate— and comes as the Trump administration pushes a broader effort to reassert U.S. influence in the Caribbean and Latin America through a security-first foreign policy.

The USS Stockdale, a guided-missile destroyer, brings advanced combat capabilities. The USCGC Stone, a National Security Cutter, supports long-range patrol and counter-narcotics operations, while the USCGC Diligence conducts coastal law-enforcement missions. 

The deployment follows remarks by Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a Jan. 28 Senate hearing, where he said the United States may need a stronger military posture to confront gangs and transnational criminal networks operating in Haiti and elsewhere in the region.

Rubio described Haitian gangs as “transnational criminal terrorist organizations” equipped with weapons typically associated with state actors, arguing that their activities threaten regional stability and U.S. national security through migration pressures and drug trafficking.

“They represent a serious threat to the stability of the region,” Rubio said. “We must be prepared to confront them in coordination with partners.”

Escalating gang violence with political transition in limbo

The U.S. naval presence comes as police intensify operations against gangs, including 400 Mawozo and other Viv Ansanm coalition affiliates, across Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas. Since early 2026, authorities have reported the deaths of several armed gang members, along with seizures of high-caliber weapons and ammunition.

Despite these operations, attacks have continued. On Jan. 30, gangs killed at least seven people, including a child, in the commune of Kenscoff, burned homes and injured several others. Days later, members of 400 Mawozo vandalized and partially burned the national soccer training center in Croix-des-Bouquets, a symbolic site for youth development.

The U.S. naval vessels’ presence also coincides with Haiti nearing the end of the CPT’s mandate, set to expire Feb. 7. With just days remaining, Haitian political actors remain deeply divided over what comes next.

Negotiations led by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to broker a consensus have stalled. Competing proposals include appointing a judge from the Court of Cassation, forming a smaller governing council or shifting authority to the Council of Ministers. After three days of meetings with political parties and civil society groups, three CPT members — Edgard Leblanc, Lesly Voltaire and Dr. Gérald Gilles — proposed a three-member governing body that would include the president of Haiti’s highest court, the Cour de Cassation.

Washington has already increased pressure on Haitian political leaders. Five CPT members and a Haitian minister were recently hit with U.S. visa restrictions after attempting to remove Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.

As Haitians debate sovereignty, security and foreign involvement, reactions to the U.S. naval presence remain mixed. Some see it as a potential lifeline amid worsening insecurity, while others fear it signals renewed external influence at a time when Haiti’s political future hangs in the balance.

Mixed reactions from Haitians

Reaction to the U.S. naval presence has been divided across Haitian social media, particularly on WhatsApp groups. 

Some view the deployment as a sign of hope, believing international support could help restore security and curb the power of armed gangs. Others remain skeptical, questioning the effectiveness of foreign intervention and warning that an increased military presence could deepen dependency and further erode Haiti’s sovereignty.

“We know what interests them, as has happened many times before — Haiti’s resources, or political pressure,” said Wasly Simon, a Facebook user reacting to the embassy’s statement. “It’s also possible they have broader regional aims, including targeting Cuba.”

Simon said global powers often use moments of crisis to expand influence in vulnerable countries situated in the Global South. “These are the same imperialist powers that helped create the crises in the first place,” he said. “Haiti is a perfect example.”

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