Trump gives El Salvador’s Bukele green light for Haiti military deployment: Report

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) – El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele secured US President Donald Trump's approval before moving ahead with a major military deployment to Haiti, where thousands of Salvadoran troops are expected to join the fight against powerful armed gangs, Axios reported Friday.

Bukele called Trump on Tuesday to ensure Washington would not oppose the operation, which has received approval from Haiti's government.

"Do what you have to do," Trump told the Salvadoran leader, according to the report. Trump also expressed sympathy over the four Salvadoran military personnel missing after an ambush in Haiti, the report said.

Bukele had previously proposed that El Salvador take charge of pacifying Haiti as a US proxy force. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly opposed the idea, preferring to keep Washington at a distance, the report ssaid.

The Salvadoran leader also requested US military equipment, including drones and transport aircraft, but his requests were denied. Colombia could potentially serve as an unofficial channel for supplying equipment, allowing the operation to proceed without direct US involvement.

Haiti struggles to contain gang violence that has killed more than 5,700 people this year, leaving communities terrified and basic services increasingly difficult to access.

El Salvador announced Wednesday that it would send as many as 2,000 troops, with the possibility of expanding the force further.

"We didn't come to Haiti to make money, because no one is paying us to do it. We came to Haiti to fight against the wicked," Bukele wrote Thursday on US social media company X.

Berk Kutay Gökmen