El Salvador Approves Troop Deployment to Haiti

El Salvador's Congress has approved sending a military contingent to Haiti to participate in medical evacuations as part of the United Nations' Multinational Security Support Mission. The proposal, which received 57 out of 60 votes, aligns with El Salvador's ongoing commitment to international security efforts, particularly in light of the escalating violence and instability in Haiti. Patricia Aguilera, the legal affairs director at the Foreign Ministry, emphasized that the contingent's focus will be on medical evacuations, leveraging the Salvadoran military's previous experience in UN missions. This decision follows President Nayib Bukele's earlier offer to assist Haiti in combating its security crisis, which has seen gang violence displace over 10,000 people in just one week. The Salvadoran deployment is part of a broader international response to Haiti's deteriorating situation, with a Kenyan-led mission currently in place but struggling to manage the unrest. El Salvador's troop commitment is set to last until October 2025, although the specifics of the deployment timeline remain unclear.