Dominican President Luis Abinader sent letters this week to his Russian and Chinese counterparts, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. In the letters, he urged them to support the Multinational Security Support mission for Haiti. This mission was recently authorized by the UN Security Council.
This outreach represents a significant diplomatic step as the Dominican Republic, Haiti’s immediate neighbor, grows increasingly concerned about the regional spillover from Haiti’s crisis.
In the letters, made public by the Dominican press, Abinader warned of the deepening emergency in Haiti. He wrote, “The humanitarian and security crisis in Haiti worsens.” He cautioned, “The violence spills beyond its borders and directly affects the national security of the Dominican Republic, with serious implications for regional peace.”
He emphasized that backing from the Security Council’s permanent members is crucial, saying their involvement can prevent an irreversible collapse of the country.
Conditions in Haiti remain dire. According to UN estimates, gangs control about 90% of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, establishing themselves as a parallel power.
Their grip is evident in extreme violence: daily kidnappings, killings, extortion, and frequent roadblocks that paralyze commerce and movement.
The violence has driven a major humanitarian crisis.
More than 1.3 million people have been displaced, representing a significant portion of the region’s residents.
Half the population faces food insecurity, specifically lacking regular, reliable access to adequate food. Hospitals, schools, and other critical infrastructure remain closed or largely inaccessible, resulting in disruptions to essential services.
While the UN resolution constitutes a diplomatic win for Port-au-Prince and its allies, questions persist about implementation. Voluntary contributions determine the funding. Several countries have already voiced concerns about potential human rights abuses.
For the Dominican Republic—on the front line of Haiti’s instability—the stakes are twofold.
The country must contain cross-border repercussions and secure the support of major powers, including those that abstained during the initial vote.
