USS Stockdale, USCGC Stone, and USCGC Diligence arrive as Operation Southern Spear ramps up – signaling heightened U.S. involvement ahead of February 7 TPC mandate expiration
Port-au-Prince, Haiti – February 4, 2026 The United States has deployed three naval vessels to the Bay of Port-au-Prince: the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106), along with Coast Guard cutters USCGC Stone (WMSL 758) and USCGC Diligence (WMEC 616). The move, directed by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, is part of Operation Southern Spear and underscores Washington’s deepening commitment to Haiti’s security and stability amid escalating political uncertainty.
The deployment comes just days before the Transitional Presidential Council’s (TPC) mandate expires on February 7, with no new president or elections in sight since 2016. The TPC, formed in April 2024 after the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, has been mired in internal divisions, including recent attempts to oust Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé — actions the U.S. has labeled “null and void” and threatened sanctions against involved members.
A Show of Force in Troubled Waters
The USS Stockdale, equipped for multi-mission warfare (anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine), joined the two Coast Guard cutters already patrolling the region. U.S. Southern Command described the operation as reflecting “the United States’ unwavering commitment to Haiti’s security, stability, and brighter future,” positioning American naval assets as partners in countering drug trafficking, supporting Haitian security forces, and stabilizing the Caribbean corridor.
The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince reinforced the message on X, stating the ships’ arrival “reaffirms our partnership and support” for Haiti.
Heightened Tensions and U.S. Sanctions
The naval presence follows U.S. sanctions and visa restrictions imposed on five TPC members — including Louis Gérald Gilles, Leslie Voltaire, and Edgard Leblanc Fils — for allegedly attempting to remove the prime minister and overstaying their transitional mandate. The U.S. has warned that such moves undermine security efforts and could favor armed gangs.
Gang violence continues to dominate Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, displacing over 1.4 million people and paralyzing much of the capital. No nationwide elections have occurred in nearly a decade, with tentative plans now pushed to summer 2026.
What This Means for Haiti
The deployment signals a more visible U.S. military footprint in Haiti at a pivotal moment. While officials frame it as support for stability and counter-narcotics, critics in Haiti and the diaspora worry it could escalate tensions or be perceived as foreign intervention.
L’Union Suite will continue tracking the ships’ activities, any official Haitian government response, and developments around the February 7 deadline.
Haiti’s future hangs in the balance — the international community is watching closely.
