On the sidelines of the 56th OAS General Assembly, held in Panama City from June 22 to 24, 2026, Raina Forbin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, alongside Albert Ramdin, OAS Secretary General, Delphine Pronk, Deputy Director General for the Americas at the European External Action Service (EEAS), and Carlos Hoyos, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, participated in the launch of an EU-OAS initiative for the construction of 5 Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in Port-au-Prince to combat armed violence.

This project, jointly organized by the EU and the OAS under the theme "Safer Societies : EU-OAS Cooperation to Combat Firearms Trafficking" aims to strengthen the operational capacities of the Haitian National Police (PNH).

This project is funded by the European Union’s Foreign Policy Instrument (FPI) to the tune of €10 million (US$11.6 million), and the completion of these bases is scheduled for mid-2027.

On behalf of the Haitian government, Minister Forbin welcomed this initiative, which is fully aligned with national security priorities. She emphasized that this project will contribute to increasing the presence of security forces in high-risk areas and consolidating recaptured territories.

In a pre-recorded message, the Director General of the Haitian National Police, Mr. Vladimir Paraison, presented an update on the security situation and the progress made by national security forces in their efforts to restore security and regain control of territories affected by gang violence.

Speaking at the event, the Secretary General of the OAS, Albert Ramdin, reaffirmed the Organization's commitment to supporting Haiti in its efforts toward stabilization and institutional strengthening. "At a time when Haiti is facing profound and complex challenges, this partnership between the OAS and the European Union is an important step in the right direction. It demonstrates the confidence placed in Haitian institutions and in the resilience of the Haitian people, as well as our shared determination to support a safer, more stable, and hopeful future for Haiti. Let us move forward together to contribute to the restoration of security, the strengthening of institutions, and the creation of the foundations for lasting peace and stability" while emphasizing the urgent need for the full deployment of the Gang Supression Force (GSF)

In her address, Ms. Delphine Pronk, Director General for the Americas at the European External Action Service, underscored the European Union's commitment to making a concrete contribution to creating a safe and secure operational environment at this crucial juncture for Haiti, particularly through the establishment of these 5 Forward Operating Bases.

SL/ HaitiLibre