By Dave Vergun
WASHINGTON, USA, (DOD News) – The crisis in Haiti requires an international solution that also includes the Haitian perspective, said Army Gen. Laura Richardson, commander of US Southern Command.
Southcom has a wide range of contingency plans and is prepared for a possible mass migration from Haiti or elsewhere, she said today at an Atlantic Council event.
“We want to be able to do what’s right and humane and be able to take care of the populations that are trying to escape the crisis,” Richardson said.
As of now, the US doesn’t have plans to send troops into Haiti, she said. The State Department is working with other governments in the region and internationally, as well as with nongovernmental organizations, to provide solutions.
Richardson said there’s a lot of international support for Guyana, as neighbouring Venezuela disputes their common border. “We continue to watch the situation very, very closely,” she said.
When asked about a Chinese space facility in Argentina, Richardson said the US continues its close collaboration with Argentine government. “That is for Argentina to decide on how that facility will remain, if it remains there, and what the way ahead for it is.”
Regarding China’s strategy for the region, Richardson said Beijing is eager to import minerals and food from various nations. China’s trade within Southcom’s area of responsibility has gone from about $12 billion to about $300 billion over the last 20 years and is expected to double by 2035.
She said China has also provided loans to nations in the region with strings attached. The US doesn’t do business with strings attached “because we’re a like-minded democracy. We would like this region to remain free, secure and prosperous,” Richardson said.
Equipment swap
Nine nations in the region have Russian military equipment, she said. The US is offering to swap out that equipment for use in Ukraine and will backfill it with US equipment, which is much better than Russian-made equipment.
Richardson said she’s enthused that women’s peace and security efforts in the region are making progress. Women are being integrated into the military, thereby increasing readiness of nations.
The general said she looks forward to continuing to engage with partners in the region to cut down on illegal fishing, mining and logging and the trafficking of people, drugs and counterfeit goods, as well as other criminal activities.