标签： Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – In a significant demonstration of international camaraderie, Haiti and Mexico commemorated 195 years of uninterrupted diplomatic relations during an official ceremony held December 16, 2025, at the Montana Hotel in Port-au-Prince.

The event, characterized by both solemn reflection and warm conviviality, assembled high-ranking officials from both nations. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé led the Haitian delegation alongside Presidential Transition Advisor Leslie Voltaire and Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste. The Mexican contingent was headed by Ambassador José de Jesús Cisneros Chávez, with Haitian Ambassador to Mexico Hubert Labbé also in attendance alongside numerous diplomatic corps representatives.

The ceremony featured the inauguration of a historical exhibition showcasing archival photographs and documents chronicling nearly two centuries of bilateral cooperation. Prime Minister Fils-Aimé personally participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony that unveiled this visual narrative of international friendship.

During the proceedings, Haitian officials reaffirmed their government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Mexico across multiple strategic sectors. The partnership prioritizes collaborative initiatives in healthcare, education, national defense, security enhancement, and agricultural development – all oriented toward sustainable development and mutual prosperity.

Presidential Advisor Voltaire delivered an address highlighting the exemplary nature of Haitian-Mexican relations, noting their foundation in shared historical struggles for freedom and independence. He referenced Haiti’s early support for Latin American independence movements as one of history’s first instances of South-South cooperation.

Voltaire further emphasized Mexico’s substantial contributions to Haitian development through educational scholarship programs, cultural exchanges, and technical cooperation projects. He characterized Mexico as an indispensable strategic partner in Haiti’s ongoing reconstruction and sustainable development efforts, underscoring the relationship’s evolution from historical solidarity to contemporary partnership.

In a significant expansion of immigration restrictions, the Trump administration has enacted sweeping travel limitations affecting citizens from 34 countries through executive action. The updated policy, implemented on December 16, 2025, introduces a comprehensive framework of entry prohibitions targeting specific nations based on security assessments and diplomatic considerations.

The revised travel ban now imposes complete entry restrictions on nationals from 19 countries, including seven newly added nations: Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Syria. This expansion builds upon existing restrictions initially implemented in June 2025, which previously targeted 12 countries including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Additionally, the executive order establishes partial travel restrictions for citizens of 15 countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Ivory Coast, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These partial restrictions vary in scope and application based on visa categories and specific circumstances.

Notably, the policy also prohibits entry to individuals holding travel documentation issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority, reflecting broader diplomatic considerations in the administration’s immigration framework.

The expanded restrictions represent the most comprehensive travel ban implemented during President Trump’s administration, significantly altering entry protocols for affected nationals and generating substantial implications for international travel, diplomatic relations, and global mobility patterns. The policy continues to prioritize national security concerns while reshaping America’s immigration landscape through executive authority.

Washington D.C. witnessed a significant diplomatic gathering on December 11, 2025, as the Organization of American States convened the third meeting of its Group of Friends of Haiti. The session featured Laurent Saint-Cyr, President pro tempore and Coordinator of Haiti’s Transition Council, as special guest, marking a pivotal moment in international support for the Caribbean nation.

The assembly conducted a comprehensive review of recent developments following OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin’s fact-finding mission to Haiti. Delegates examined progress on the established roadmap while strengthening coordination mechanisms between the OAS, United Nations, CARICOM, and Haitian transitional authorities. Participants unanimously emphasized the critical importance of Haitian-led processes encompassing security initiatives, governance frameworks for 2026, and preparations for credible electoral proceedings.

President Saint-Cyr acknowledged the OAS’s steadfast solidarity while declaring the joint roadmap had entered a decisive implementation phase. He identified security restoration as the nation’s paramount priority, stressing the urgent need to transform international commitments into concrete actions. “The magnitude of needs demands expanded, immediate, and sustained engagement,” Saint-Cyr asserted, calling upon the entire diplomatic group to intensify support measures.

The transitional leader specifically highlighted the essential deployment of the Gang Repression Force (FRG) as imperative for ensuring successful elections. Both OAS and Inter-American Development Bank representatives reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Haiti’s National Identification Office in modernizing electoral registers and enhancing technical capacities for free, inclusive voting processes. Additional priorities included developing modern prison infrastructure and reintegrating children forcibly recruited by armed groups.

Secretary General Ramdin pledged continued close collaboration with Haitian authorities and international partners, particularly focusing on security enhancement, governance strengthening, and national identity card issuance—fundamental prerequisites for democratic elections. “Our collective efforts remain dedicated to achieving the peace, stability, and democratic renewal that the Haitian people rightfully deserve,” Ramdin affirmed.

Concluding the meeting, Saint-Cyr reiterated the Transitional Council’s determination to restore security, execute the roadmap, organize elections, and protect vulnerable populations while acknowledging that “Haiti cannot overcome challenges of this magnitude without international partnership.”

In a landmark address at the 51st Ordinary Session of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA), Haiti’s Ambassador Lesly David charted a bold course for regional cooperation. The session, convened in Caracas, Venezuela on December 11, 2025, marked a historic moment as Ambassador David, who also serves as Haiti’s envoy to Colombia and Ecuador, addressed the ministerial meeting in his new capacity as the elected Permanent Secretary of SELA—the first Haitian national to hold this prestigious position.

Ambassador David positioned regional integration as ‘the most powerful tool’ available to counter global uncertainties, emphasizing that this approach transcends mere economic considerations. ‘It is not just about the economy, but about building collective unity, even from our differences,’ he declared before the assembly of member state representatives. The diplomat highlighted the paradoxical reality of a resource-rich region of approximately 660 million inhabitants that simultaneously remains ‘the most unequal region on the planet.’

Drawing attention to persistent structural challenges, David noted that ‘millions of our citizens still live in poverty, and extreme poverty, remaining at alarming levels, particularly affecting women, young people and vulnerable communities.’ In response to these pressing issues, he presented the Permanent Secretariat’s Work Programme as a ‘concrete response to these challenges, a roadmap that transforms good intentions into measurable actions.’

The comprehensive strategy rests on three foundational pillars: economic recovery, social development, and digitalization with infrastructure modernization. For economic revitalization, SELA committed to aggressively advance trade facilitation measures and organize the ‘Third China-Latin America and Caribbean Investment Cooperation Forum’ to attract essential foreign resources and technologies.

Regarding social development, the organization will prioritize poverty eradication initiatives, formulate cooperative development policies, and implement virtual workshops focused on educational strategies for integrating migrant women and girls. These efforts specifically aim to transform migration from a potential source of exclusion into a development opportunity incorporating gender perspective frameworks.

Concerning digital transformation, SELA pledged to promote comprehensive digitalization and develop sustainable, intelligent infrastructure throughout the region. Ambassador David emphasized that ‘modern infrastructure is the essential platform for the digital economy and that the synergy between these two pillars is crucial for development.’

The session reaffirmed SELA’s continuing role as a principal mechanism for fostering regional integration through intra-regional cooperation, ultimately aiming to stimulate economic recovery and comprehensive development across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Established in 1975 and headquartered in Caracas, Venezuela, SELA represents 28 member states after five decades of continuous operation. The organization specializes in promoting economic coordination, developing unified strategies for international engagement, and strengthening South-South cooperation through its recognized international legal personality.