International
Canada flies military aircraft over Haiti to help fight gangs
February 6th |
The Canadian government said Sunday it deployed a military aircraft over Haiti to address what it called an “extreme security situation” and to support efforts to disrupt Haitian gang activities.
Canada explained in a statement that it is supporting the Haitian National Police and deployed a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft in response to Haiti’s request for support as violence continues to escalate in the country.
Haitian gangs have expanded their territory since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. The resulting violence has left much of the country off limits to the government and has led to routine shootouts with police.
Haiti is expected to be on the agenda for U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to Canada next month.
The Canadian patrol aircraft will provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to strengthen efforts to establish and maintain peace, and will remain in the region “for several days,” the Canadian government said.
In October, the UN suggested sending a “rapid action force” to Haiti to combat escalating violence by armed gangs, whose turf battles have left hundreds dead and thousands displaced.
However, many have expressed skepticism, citing abuses from previous missions and questioning whether a force would back Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s government, which has been without democratically elected representatives since early January.
Most countries have been reluctant to send troops, although nearby Jamaica said it would be willing to participate and El Salvador offered “technical assistance.”
About seven out of 10 Haitians support the proposal to create an international force to help the national police combat armed gang violence, according to a January poll.
International
Trump Raises Possibility of “Friendly Takeover” of Cuba Amid Deepening Crisis
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, reiterated Monday the possibility that Washington could pursue a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, amid the severe crisis facing the island following the oil blockade promoted by the U.S. government.
Speaking at a press conference in Miami, the president said that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is currently “negotiating” with representatives of the Cuban government, although authorities in Havana have repeatedly denied that such talks are taking place.
Trump suggested that Washington could play a more direct role in the island’s future.
“It may be a friendly takeover. It may not be a friendly takeover. It wouldn’t matter because they’re really down to, as they say, fumes. They have no energy, they have no money. They are in deep trouble on a humanitarian basis, and we really don’t want to see that,” the U.S. president said.
The president also argued that the Cuban government had long depended heavily on support from Venezuela, particularly oil supplies.
According to Trump, that support has been drastically reduced following measures adopted by Washington.
“They were living off Venezuela. Venezuela doesn’t send them energy, fuel, oil, money, or anything anymore. They couldn’t survive without Venezuela, they couldn’t have made it, and we cut everything off,” Trump said.
International
Mexico, Brazil and Colombia left out of Trump’s “Shield of the Americas” summit
Left-wing governments in Latin America, including Mexico, Brazil and Colombia, were excluded from the “Shield of the Americas” summit convened by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The meeting, held in Miami, Florida, brought together 12 presidents from across the continent to discuss strategies to combat drug cartels and organized crime.
In Mexico’s case, President Claudia Sheinbaum had recently rejected the use of military force as a solution to the drug trafficking problem. She has argued that her administration’s security strategy is producing results and emphasized that force alone is not the answer.
During the summit, Trump said that most narcotics entering the United States come through Mexico and referred to his previous conversations with Sheinbaum on the issue.
“I like the president very much, she’s a very good person,” Trump said. “But I told her: ‘Let me eradicate the cartels.’ And she said, ‘No, no, no, please, president.’ We have to eradicate them. We have to finish them.”
The remarks highlighted ongoing differences between Washington and Mexico over how to confront drug trafficking networks operating across the region.
International
Trump announces 17-nation alliance in the Americas to “destroy” drug cartels
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday the creation of a 17-nation alliance across the Americas aimed at dismantling drug cartels, during a regional summit held at his golf club in Doral.
Speaking to a group of allied leaders at the Shield of the Americas Summit, Trump said the initiative would rely on military force to eliminate powerful criminal networks operating throughout the hemisphere.
“The heart of our agreement is the commitment to use lethal military force to destroy these sinister cartels and terrorist networks. Once and for all, we will put an end to them,” Trump told the assembled heads of state.
The Republican leader argued that large portions of territory in the Western Hemisphere have fallen under the control of transnational gangs and pledged U.S. support to governments seeking to confront them. He even suggested the potential use of highly precise missiles against cartel leaders.
Before making the announcement, Trump greeted the roughly twelve leaders attending the summit, including close allies such as Javier Milei, Daniel Noboa and Nayib Bukele, whom he described as a “great president.”
The meeting forms part of Trump’s broader regional strategy inspired by his reinterpretation of the Monroe Doctrine, which seeks to reinforce Washington’s influence in the Americas, strengthen security cooperation and counter the growing presence of powers such as China.
Trump pointed to recent U.S. actions in the region as examples of his administration’s approach, including the operation that led to the capture of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro earlier this year.
The summit also takes place amid escalating international tensions following the conflict launched last week by the United States and Israel against Iran.
Trump Raises Possibility of “Friendly Takeover” of Cuba Amid Deepening Crisis
UN Rapporteur Warns of “Deep Crisis” in Guatemala’s Judicial System
UN Report Warns of Nicaragua’s “Transnational” Surveillance Network Targeting Dissidents
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
International4 days agoTrump announces 17-nation alliance in the Americas to “destroy” drug cartels
-
International3 days ago
Mexico, Brazil and Colombia left out of Trump’s “Shield of the Americas” summit
-
International5 days agoYoung Woman Will Represent Mexico at 2026 World Cup Opener, Says President Sheinbaum
-
International5 days agoTrump replaces Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem with Senator Markwayne Mullin
-
International12 hours agoTrump Raises Possibility of “Friendly Takeover” of Cuba Amid Deepening Crisis
-
Central America12 hours agoGuatemala Remains in “Restricted” Press Freedom Category, Chapultepec Index Warns
-
Central America12 hours agoUN Report Warns of Nicaragua’s “Transnational” Surveillance Network Targeting Dissidents
-
Central America12 hours agoUN Rapporteur Warns of “Deep Crisis” in Guatemala’s Judicial System