Trump responded to Bukele to take action in Haiti following a call about sending soldiers

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele called Donald Trump on Tuesday before stepping up his country's military action in Haiti. According to Le Nouvelliste, which cites the American media outlet Axios, he wanted to know if the American president had any objections. Still according to Axios, Trump replied, sources familiar with the exchange said, that he could proceed as he saw fit. For its part, AlterPresse indicates that Trump confirmed this conversation.

What El Salvador has already committed

Le Nouvelliste writes that Bukele has dispatched thousands of soldiers to Haiti. Two objectives are cited: supporting the fight against gangs and finding four Salvadoran soldiers captured during a recent ambush. Still according to that newspaper, which refers to Axios, the Haitian government has agreed to this escalation.

AlterPresse reports, citing Axios, that the troop numbers could double or even triple.

Bukele's message to Haitians

Bukele addressed the Haitian population directly on Thursday evening, according to Le Nouvelliste. He stated that the deployment of his troops was nearing its end. He presented the operation as a mission to search for his four nationals and to help deal with the gangs, not as an invasion.

He also affirmed that El Salvador is covering 90% of the costs. His soldiers will leave Haiti, he promised, once the mission is accomplished. He hopes that the next generation of Haitians will remember the Salvadoran support.

What the sources do not specify

The articles consulted do not say how many soldiers are already on the ground. Nor do they say on what date the mission is scheduled to end.