WASHINGTON, United States, Feb 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US military officials said Tuesday American warships had arrived off the coast of Haiti, as the island country's leaders cling to power in their ongoing war against violent drug gangs. The USS Stockdale, USCGC Stone and USCGC Diligence entered the Bay of Port-au-Prince to "reflect the United States unwavering commitment to Haiti's security, stability and a brighter future," the US embassy in Haiti posted on X. After facing years of violence and instability, Haiti is entering a new phase of political turbulence in the days before the official end of the mandate for the country's Presidential Transitional Council on February 7. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, with swaths of the country under the control of rival armed gangs who carry out murders, rapes and kidnappings. The US recently announced new visa restrictions targeting senior officials, who are accused of supporting gangs.
