Pres. Joe Biden Says U.S. Will Not Send Troops to Haiti After Pres. Jovenel Moise's Assassination

By Joshua Summers Jul 16 2021, 06:33 AM EDT

President Joe Biden said the U.S. will not be sending troops to Haiti for now. Haiti has earlier asked the U.S. for assistance following President Jovenel Moise's assassination.

CBS News reported that Joe Biden made the comments on Thursday, July 15, in a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Earlier this month, under Prime Minister Claude Joseph, the government of Haiti sent a letter to the Biden administration and the United Nations, asking for troops to help secure the country's major infrastructure, provide security for their people, and aid in their elections scheduled in September.

Joe Biden Says Sending Troops to Haiti is Not on The 'Agenda' Now

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Joe Biden said that sending U.S. troops to Haiti "is not on the agenda at this moment."

"We're only sending American Marines to our embassy to make sure that they are secure and nothing is out of whack at all," the president said as CNBC reported.

Despite the declination of Joe Biden in sending troops, The Hill reported that U.S. officials from Homeland Security, State Department, Justice Department, and White House National Security Council traveled to Haiti on July 11 to evaluate Haiti's security and assist in the investigation on the president's assassination.

Haiti's elections minister Mathias Pierre told The Associated Press that he believes that the request for U.S. troops remains relevant.

"This is not a closed door. The evolution of the situation will determine the outcome," Pierre noted.

The Haiti's elections minister underscored that for now, their government is doing everything to stabilize and return the country to a normal environment.

Haitian Doctor Paid Security Team Until He Becomes President

Joe Biden's comments on Haiti's request for U.S. troops came after a Haitian doctor in the custody of the authorities reportedly gathered funding for a security team to guard and protect him while he assumed office.

The Washington Post reported that Christian Emmanuel Sanon told others in a May 12 meeting at Fort Lauderdale in Florida that he wanted to turn Haiti into "a free and open society."

Sanon then met with two business owners identified as Walter Veintemilla and Antonio Intriago and started writing a plan about the business owners' companies arranging a security force to protect Sanon until he assumed office. Sanon will reportedly repay them with Haiti's assets.

The Post also mentioned another document that revealed over $860,000 in loans to the Haitian doctor for ammunition, equipment, and transportation for personnel. The majority would be provided by Veintemilla's company, while the rest will be covered by Intriago's firm.

Despite the documents acquired, the Post found no evidence of any intention to kill the Haitian president.

As the investigation on Jovenel Moise's assassination continues, over 20 people have been arrested so far. Sanon was one of the three Haitian Americans who were placed under the custody of the authorities. At least 13 Americans were also suspected to be involved in the killing of Haiti's President.