Invited to a conference organized by the Directorate of Student Affairs of Université Quisqueya (DAÉ-UniQ) on the theme “Multilateralism Under the Crossfire of Current Events” on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, historian Michel Soukar analyzed the potential benefits Haiti could derive at a time when the global system appears to be moving toward a new redefinition.

Haiti today is “a recognized State, but one that no longer fulfills its function,” Michel Soukar observed. The territory is partially beyond public control, citizens’ security is no longer guaranteed, institutions are weakened, and external dependence weighs heavily on national decision-making. Referring to the Montevideo Convention, Mr. Soukar recalled that “legally, Haiti meets the criteria of a State, but no longer meets the criteria to exercise effective sovereignty.”