U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz announced a significant change in American foreign policy toward Haiti, stating that under the Trump administration, the United States will shift from a defensive to an offensive strategy against the powerful gangs destabilizing the country.
In an interview with Fox News host Martha MacCallum, Waltz revealed that the UN Security Council has approved a new mandate authorizing proactive measures to target and dismantle Haiti’s criminal networks. The ambassador emphasized that the gangs, which control much of Port-au-Prince, pose not only a threat to Haiti’s stability but also to U.S. national security, particularly in the Caribbean region.
“These gangs are in coordination with transnational groups. They’re shipping drugs, money, and weapons, destabilizing the entire region,” Waltz said, pointing to growing concerns about cross-border criminal activity reaching as far as Florida’s shores.
The remarks follow the September 30 approval of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) by the UN Security Council — a multinational operation replacing the Kenyan-led mission. The force will include more than 5,500 personnel from countries such as Kenya and Panama, authorized to carry out “intelligence-led, targeted counter-gang operations to neutralize, isolate, and deter gangs.”
Waltz underscored that the new mandate marks a sharp departure from previous peacekeeping models. “Unlike the past, we’re going to go on offense,” he declared, referencing notorious gang leaders such as Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, who has become a central figure in Haiti’s ongoing crisis.
The resolution also reinforces the principle of burden-sharing, reflecting President Trump’s “America First” approach. The United States will contribute strategically without bearing the full cost or responsibility of intervention. Waltz described the move as a “key first step toward restoring security and hope for Haiti’s future.”
The U.S. government has also tied the initiative to broader regional operations targeting transnational crime, including recent naval strikes on cartel vessels in the Caribbean — signaling a more aggressive and coordinated approach to curbing instability in the region.
