It is a well-known fact that Haiti is a sovereign nation. It became a country after defeating one of the world's most powerful armies—the French army—in 1804.
But looking at the country today, that history feels very distant.
Haiti is currently the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. It is going through political crisis after political crisis, rampant chaos, foreign interventions, and disaster after disaster.
Instead of moving toward development, Haiti seems to be sliding backward into poverty.
So, it is fair to ask the question: "Who really controls Haiti?"
The Uncomfortable Truth
While Haiti currently has a transitional government in place, many observers argue that the country is mostly controlled by three world powers:
- The United States
- Canada
- France
Look!
Almost every Haitian knows this.
If you spend just one day listening to Haitian media, you will quickly learn that Haiti does not function like a sovereign nation. Instead, it operates like an unofficial protectorate of the US, in collaboration with the French and Canadian governments.
The ambassadors of these three countries often seem to have more control over Haiti’s future than the Haitian government could ever dream of.