New York, United States – Canada has thrown its weight behind Kenya’s leadership of the Haiti mission, even as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to question the viability and cost of the deployment.
In a statement issued on Monday, September 22, 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration reaffirmed its support for President William Ruto’s role in the United Nations Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti.
“Today, Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Kenyan President William Ruto on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly. Prime Minister Carney thanked President Ruto for Kenya’s leadership in the MSS mission in Haiti and reaffirmed Canada’s strong support for greater stability and security in Haiti,” the statement read.
The two leaders also discussed deepening trade and investment ties, with Carney pledging closer engagement between Ottawa and Nairobi.
Canada’s assurances come against the backdrop of sharp criticism from President Trump, whose administration has raised concerns over the financial and logistical burden of the mission. Washington has insisted that it cannot continue to shoulder what it views as a disproportionate share of the costs.
In April 2025, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea warned that other nations must “contribute their fair share” to the mission. “While we remain determined to assist the Haitian people in achieving the peace, security, and prosperity they deserve, America cannot continue to shoulder such a significant financial burden,” she said.
Trump’s administration froze much of the pledged U.S. funding for the MSS during a 90-day foreign aid review, exempting only equipment and helicopters. However, President Ruto has openly voiced dissatisfaction with the quality of the support provided.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Ruto accused Washington of supplying substandard logistics vehicles that frequently broke down, even in dangerous areas controlled by armed gangs.
“I must thank the U.S. government; they did make available logistics vehicles, but unfortunately, most of them were second-hand and broke down many times. In fact, it put our personnel in great danger when they broke down in dangerous places,” Ruto told delegates.
The Kenyan Head of State further revealed that the MSS mission has been operating at only 40P.c capacity due to unmet expectations. “Initially, it was expected that 2,500 security personnel would be provided, but unfortunately, they were not made available. It was also expected that force multipliers like armored personnel carriers and sufficient logistics support would be there to make the mission successful,” he added.
With Canada stepping up its diplomatic backing, attention now turns to whether other international partners will rally behind Kenya’s leadership in stabilizing Haiti, or whether Trump’s pressure will continue to weaken multilateral commitment.
