Summary
The Trump administration has designated the Viv Ansanm gang coalition in Haiti as a terrorist group, exacerbating the nation’s humanitarian crisis as gangs control vital economic access points like ports and roads. This designation empowers the U.S. to impose economic sanctions and potentially military action against the gangs and their associates, which could halt all trade with Haiti due to the gangs’ control over movement in Port-au-Prince. Experts warn that humanitarian aid efforts will also face significant challenges, as access to communities requires negotiations with the gangs.