Wednesday Briefing: Turmoil in Haiti
Good morning. We’re covering uncertainty in Haiti and a new U.S. weapons package for Ukraine. Plus, Gen Z dumps dating apps.
Kenya put a planned force for Haiti on holdKenya said it would pause a plan to send 1,000 police officers to Haiti until the Caribbean country forms a new government. On Monday, Ariel Henry, Haiti’s prime minister, agreed to step down, once a new transitional government is formed. It is unclear when that will happen. Henry’s announcement came after days of violent gang attacks on police stations, prisons, the main airport, seaport and other state institutions. The gangs had threatened civil war if he did not resign. Henry’s decision has brought more uncertainty to an already chaotic situation. The U.S. on Monday announced that it would provide $100 million to support the Kenya-led, multinational force, which has been backed by the U.N. But a Kenyan spokesman said: “You don’t just deploy police to go on the Port-au-Prince streets without a sitting administration.” Henry: He is stranded in Puerto Rico, after traveling to Kenya to finalize the deal. Many Haitians saw his power as illegitimate. Caribbean leaders: They met for discussions in Jamaica to try to create a transitional council that would lead Haiti. But a leader said on Monday that no plan had been finalized.
The U.S. will send more weapons to UkraineThe Biden administration announced a stopgap plan to send up to $300 million in weapons to Ukraine, the first new aid package for the country since funding ran out in late December. The weapons will keep advancing Russian troops at bay — but only for a few weeks, an official said. Still, Ukraine is in particular need of air defense systems. Russia has continued to bombard towns, particularly in the east. The aid will include air defense interceptors, artillery rounds and armor systems, senior defense officials said. Will more aid come? It is still unclear. The Senate has passed an emergency aid bill, which includes $60.1 billion for Ukraine, but Republicans in the House have refused to put the measure to a vote.
Senators urged Biden to stop arming IsraelEight senators — seven Democrats and an independent, Bernie Sanders — urged President Biden in a letter to stop giving Israel offensive weapons for the war against Hamas until it lifts restrictions on U.S.-backed humanitarian aid going into Gaza. The letter could come at an auspicious time. Biden is openly frustrated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and has warned him against invading Rafah, in southern Gaza. Some U.S. officials have said that Biden appears to be slowly reconsidering his aversion to limits on how Israel can use the weaponry it buys. |
