Former Envoy Blames Biden’s "Absentee" Haiti Policy for Nation’s Collapse

A former special envoy to Haiti, Daniel Foote, is sharply criticizing what he views as former President Joe Biden’s detached and ineffective approach to the Caribbean nation, arguing that it has directly contributed to the devastating crisis currently gripping the country. Foote, who served as special envoy in 2021, resigned in protest over the Biden administration’s continued support for what he deemed unpopular and unelected leaders in Haiti. He contends that this policy, like many before it, has failed the Haitian people.

Foote asserts that the United States’ track record of backing, anointing, or imposing governments in Haiti over the past century has consistently resulted in administrations that do not represent the interests of the Haitian populace. He specifically points to the Biden administration’s support for Ariel Henry, the then-unelected Prime Minister, alleging that Henry’s unwavering loyalty was prioritized over concerns regarding his legitimacy and ascent to power.

The situation in Haiti has deteriorated dramatically, with gang violence reaching unprecedented levels. Critics, including Foote, argue that the U.S. lacks a clear and effective strategy to address the escalating crisis. Foote, who has been involved with Haiti since the devastating 2010 earthquake, believes the nation is on the brink of complete collapse. He emphasizes that the current situation is significantly worse than it was in 2010, stating that the already weak social contract between the people and the government has been shattered. According to Foote, Haiti has essentially been a failed state since 2012.

Recent reports from the United Nations paint a grim picture of the situation on the ground. Over one million people have been displaced due to rampant gang violence, representing nearly 10% of Haiti’s total population. Moreover, it is estimated that gangs control approximately 85% of Port-au-Prince, the nation’s capital, further highlighting the government’s inability to maintain order and security.

Foote claims he never had the opportunity to meet with Biden during his tenure as special envoy. He alleges that Biden’s cognitive abilities had deteriorated to the point that he was being shielded from extensive interactions. Instead, Foote asserts that Victoria Nuland, the undersecretary of state for political affairs, and Michele Sison, the U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, were primarily responsible for formulating and implementing the policy of supporting Henry.

Foote recalls a controversial remark allegedly made by Biden in 1994 when he was a senator. According to Foote, Biden stated, "If Haiti just quietly sunk into the Caribbean, or rose up 300 feet, it wouldn’t matter a whole lot in terms of our interests." Foote argues that this statement encapsulates Biden’s long-standing attitude towards Haiti.

While Biden’s spokesperson and Ambassador Sison have not responded to requests for comment, Nuland has vehemently rejected Foote’s accusations, dismissing them as "completely false." She directed inquiries to Brian Nichols, the former Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Nichols, who assumed his position shortly before Foote’s resignation, defended the decision-making process, asserting that there was "intense coordination" and that significant policy decisions were not made by a single individual or a small group. He stated that all issues were thoroughly debated at multiple levels, including at the Cabinet secretary level.

Foote laments the change in attitudes towards Americans in Haiti. He recalls a time when he felt safe walking around the country without security, as Americans were generally welcomed. However, he says that sentiment has shifted dramatically. Haitians are now looking to countries like China and Russia for assistance, feeling that the United States has consistently let them down. Despite this disillusionment, they still desire American help.

The Biden administration has committed approximately $600 million to fund an international security force, known as the multinational security support mission (MSS), composed of personnel from various countries. However, Foote believes this strategy is a wasteful use of taxpayer money. He argues that the MSS lacks the necessary security infrastructure to effectively combat the gangs. He says what is needed is not a force of random police officers from developing countries, led by Kenyans who lack experience in leading security missions.

Nichols defends the MSS, describing their efforts as "incredibly heroic." He claims to have witnessed their professionalism, courage, and commitment to the mission while on the ground in Haiti.

Foote proposes a different approach, recommending that President Donald Trump deploy 60 U.S. special forces personnel to train an elite anti-gang unit in Haiti and reestablish a signals intelligence program to monitor gang communication. He warns that failure to take decisive action will have consequences far beyond Haiti’s borders, leading to increased chaos and a surge in migration to the United States.

Jack Brewer, a former NFL player who founded a global foundation that has been working in Haiti since the 2010 earthquake, echoes Foote’s assessment of the dire situation. He describes horrific acts of violence, including people being burned alive and police officers being brutally murdered. Brewer emphasizes that real change can only come from within Haiti, requiring a cultural shift towards rejecting corruption and upholding the rule of law. He argues that until the moral fabric of the nation is restored, external assistance will be ineffective. He says that stealing is culturally accepted, and that has to change.