U.S. President Donald Trump gave Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele the green light to send thousands of troops to Haiti, The Haitian Times reported on October 30, citing the U.S. news site Axios. Bukele reportedly called Trump on Tuesday, October 27, to make sure Washington would not object. Trump answered, “Do what you have to do,” and expressed sympathy over the missing Salvadorans.

About 2,000 Salvadoran special forces are already in Port-au-Prince, with more expected. Bukele wrote on X on October 29 that the deployment was nearly complete. According to Axios, the United States and Colombia provided logistical and transport support, and El Salvador is covering about 90% of the cost.

The troops were sent after four Salvadoran aviation technicians went missing following a gang ambush in Croix-des-Bouquets on October 18. Their fate is still unknown. Bukele has said the immediate goal is to bring them home, that the operation is not aimed at the Haitian population and is not an invasion, and that it will target the gangs terrorizing communities.

Haiti's government has approved the deployment, which it describes as a bilateral agreement. Its terms have not been made public, and neither government has explained the chain of command or how the Salvadoran forces will work with the Haitian National Police and the UN-authorized Gang Suppression Force, to which El Salvador already provides medical, transport and maintenance support.

Axios also reported that Bukele wanted assurances that the United States would not abandon him in the middle of the operation.