In a high-stakes diplomatic gathering held at Haiti’s National Palace on May 29, 2026, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met head-on with Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé to coordinate next steps in addressing the country’s ongoing political and security crisis. The U.S. delegation included U.S. Ambassador to Haiti Dennis B. Hankins and a team of senior State Department policy advisors, while top Haitian cabinet members—including Foreign Affairs Minister Raina Forbin, Planning Minister Sandra Paulémon, Justice and Public Security Minister Patrick Pelissier, and Defense Minister Mario Andrésol, plus Acting Commander Vladimir Paraison of the Haitian National Police (PNH)—joined the talks on the Haitian side.
Two core priorities dominated the meeting’s agenda: the ongoing campaign to dismantle violent armed gangs that have destabilized large swathes of Haiti, and preparations for upcoming general elections, with discussions centered on mapping out the conditions needed to hold a free, fair, and credible vote. According to statements from the Haitian Prime Minister’s Office, this high-level visit marks a defining political turning point for the Caribbean nation, with the White House issuing a clear, unambiguous statement of total, unwavering, and exclusive backing for Fils-Aimé’s government.
After months of international ambiguity around Haiti’s leadership transition, Washington has made its position clear: the U.S. stands firmly aligned with Fils-Aimé to rebuild state authority, dismantle transnational criminal networks that have terrorized civilian populations, and stabilize Haiti’s fractured democratic institutions. During the bilateral discussions, Landau publicly praised Fils-Aimé’s leadership and steady determination in the face of unprecedented crisis, reiterating that the current Haitian government is the only legitimate body empowered to lead the country toward sovereign, democratic elections.
Following the closed-door talks, Landau and his delegation toured the National Palace and the adjacent Champ de Mars—two iconic symbols of Haiti’s republican governance—to inspect newly implemented security upgrades. During the tour, Fils-Aimé outlined key progress his administration has already made on the security front: the gradual “territorial reconquest” of strategic districts across the Haitian capital that had been seized by armed gangs; the full restoration of institutional operations at the National Palace, long paralyzed by security threats; and deepened joint coordination between the PNH and the Haitian Armed Forces (FAd’H), a collaboration boosted by the bilateral U.S.-Haiti P4000+ security assistance program.
By the end of the meeting, both governments reaffirmed their long-standing strategic alliance, committing to continued joint action to eradicate armed violence and lay the groundwork for a stable, democratic future for the Haitian people.