The United States is currently evaluating the option to deploy a specialized Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) of Marines to Haiti, prompted by a severe deterioration in the security environment due to rampant gang violence. This move, prompted by a request from the State Department, aims to enhance the security of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince in the wake of chaos that led to the shutdown of the nation’s primary international airport and the release of over 4,000 prisoners from jails.
Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry is facing increasing difficulty in governing, further complicated by restrictions on his movement, including airspace closures by neighboring countries. The security turmoil in Haiti has led to more than 8,400 people being killed, injured, or kidnapped in 2023, doubling the figures from the previous year and exacerbating a humanitarian crisis that affects nearly half of the country’s population.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy in Haiti advised American residents to leave the country at their earliest convenience due to safety concerns, announcing that it would operate on a limited basis starting Thursday. The embassy issued a security warning, highlighting the possibility of disruptions to its operations throughout the week due to violence from gangs and its impact on transportation and infrastructure.
The Marine Corps’ Fleet Antiterrorism Security Teams (FAST), known for their global deployments for short-term missions to protect or reclaim U.S. interests, are highly trained for various security tasks. These tasks include operations for evacuating noncombatants, engaging in close-quarters combat, conducting urban and convoy operations, securing ships, and other specialized security activities. This training information is detailed on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service’s website. FAST units, stationed in Yorktown, Virginia as part of the Marine Corps Security Force Regiment, have been actively involved in key missions. For example, in 2019, FAST Marines were assigned to secure a U.S. merchant vessel navigating through the Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Oman and Iran.
However, the U.S. government has indicated a preference for focusing on diplomatic and humanitarian support rather than deploying military forces for stabilization purposes, highlighted by the recent endorsement of a Kenyan police mission to Haiti.
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