U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after emphasizing that "the solution to Haiti’s problems lies in the hands of Haitians and their elites," stated that "the first objective is to pacify" the country during a joint press conference with Dominican President Luis Abinader in Santo Domingo on Thursday, February 6, 2025.

"The solution for Haiti is in the hands of the Haitian people, in the hands of the Haitian elite. But we will provide our assistance. We cannot ignore this country's problems. Their future, their destiny, is in their hands. Unfortunately, today, a large part of the territory is under the control of armed and dangerous gangs, and we must address this. The first objective is to restore peace, and that is the mission’s goal—a mission that we will continue to support," stated the U.S. Secretary of State.