Russia and China Block U.S. Effort to Transition Haiti Force to UN Peacekeepers

The U.S. proposal to upgrade the Kenya-led force in Haiti to a UN peacekeeping mission faces opposition over funding and operational concerns.

Russia and China oppose a U.S.-backed plan to transform the Kenya-led multinational force in Haiti into a UN peacekeeping mission, citing operational and funding challenges.
The Kenya-led force, deployed to combat escalating gang violence, currently has only 430 officers out of a planned 2,500 and faces significant funding shortfalls.
Haiti's government and several UN Security Council members support the transition to a peacekeeping mission to secure more sustainable financing and resources.
Critics argue that UN peacekeepers are not suited for combatting urban gang violence, with Russia and China emphasizing the lack of peace to maintain in Haiti's current state.
The U.S. has pledged $300 million toward the force, but the estimated $600 million annual cost remains unmet, leaving the mission under-resourced as gangs control 85% of Port-au-Prince.