Haiti Diplomacy: Raina Forbin Sets Priorities as Dominican Republic Test Looms

Port-au-Prince, March 22, 2026 — Less than three weeks after taking office, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs, Raina Forbin, has stepped up diplomatic efforts on multiple fronts.

Officially installed on March 4, 2026 by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, in the presence of her predecessor Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste, the new chancellor outlined key government priorities as early as March 5: restoring security, organizing credible elections, reviving the economy, and reshaping Haiti’s diplomacy. These priorities were reiterated during a series of meetings with the diplomatic corps accredited in Haiti, as well as with the Prime Minister.

On March 6, she took part in the launch of the Francophonie Fortnight alongside French Ambassador Antoine Michon. On March 8, marking International Women’s Day, she paid tribute to women working within the ministry. On March 13, she initiated dialogue with religious leaders on issues related to social cohesion.

On the bilateral front, consultations intensified starting March 17. The minister successively met with Peru’s Consul General, Dimitri Léger, and Spain’s Ambassador, Marco Antonio Peñín Toledano, focusing on strengthening cooperation, particularly in humanitarian and security areas.

On March 18, she held talks with U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Henry T. Wooster. Discussions focused on the security situation, anti-gang operations, and electoral prospects.

In the same vein, the chancellor met with the head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), Carlos Ruiz Massieu, to discuss the UN’s role in supporting the transition, particularly in security and governance.

Diplomatic engagements continued on March 20 with meetings involving Colombia’s Ambassador Vilma Velásquez and Mexico’s Ambassador Jesús Cisneros. Talks centered on concrete areas of cooperation, including training, agriculture, security, and economic exchanges, according to official statements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Meanwhile, Minister Forbin accompanied Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé to Chile for the inauguration of President-elect José Antonio Kast. On the sidelines of this visit in Santiago, discussions were also held with the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Albert Ramdin, focusing on security challenges and Haiti’s electoral process.

At the same time, Raina Forbin is participating in the CELAC–Africa High-Level Forum held on March 20–21 in Bogotá, under the framework of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. On the sidelines of the forum, she met with Mexico’s Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente and Colombia’s Foreign Minister Yolanda Villavicencio Mapy.

In parallel, Haiti has formalized its accession to the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO), an initiative dating back to 2024 aimed at strengthening maritime security and modernizing vessel monitoring systems.

At the same time, several Haitian ambassadors have been recalled, signaling an ongoing strategic repositioning of the country’s diplomatic apparatus.

However, the real test remains the resumption of relations with the Dominican Republic. Amid persistent tensions and deadlock, Haiti’s diplomacy is expected to address key issues: migration, trade imbalances at the border, the resumption of flights, and the reopening of border crossings. These pressing challenges will serve as a benchmark for the chancellor’s ability to reestablish a constructive dialogue with President Luis Abinader.

Brigitte Benshow