The United Nations Security Council voted on Tuesday to expand a struggling international security force in Haiti, but Russia, China, and Pakistan abstained from the measure proposed by the United States and Panama. Armed gangs control nearly all of Port-au-Prince and have displaced 1.3 million people while creating famine-level conditions. U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz told the council that gang violence threatens Haiti's existence as a state.
The expanded force will operate under voluntary contributions of personnel and funding with leadership from contributing nations plus the U.S. and Canada. Kenya's president acknowledged challenges with the current mission, noting that donated vehicles broke down frequently. Russia and China criticized Washington for insufficient funding and allowing weapons to flow from the U.S. into Haiti.
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia questioned whether the U.S. would fulfill funding commitments after failing to support the initial mission adequately. China's representative expressed concerns about the operation's prospects but declined to veto the resolution given Haiti's security crisis. A U.S. official warned last week that continued funding depends on council approval of the restructured mission.
The expanded force will operate under voluntary contributions of personnel and funding with leadership from contributing nations plus the U.S. and Canada. Kenya's president acknowledged challenges with the current mission, noting that donated vehicles broke down frequently. Russia and China criticized Washington for insufficient funding and allowing weapons to flow from the U.S. into Haiti.
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia questioned whether the U.S. would fulfill funding commitments after failing to support the initial mission adequately. China's representative expressed concerns about the operation's prospects but declined to veto the resolution given Haiti's security crisis. A U.S. official warned last week that continued funding depends on council approval of the restructured mission.
