Accra:Washington El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has received approval from US President Donald Trump for a significant military deployment to Haiti. The operation will see thousands of Salvadoran troops joining efforts to combat powerful armed gangs in the country.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, Bukele reached out to Trump on Tuesday to ensure that the United States would not oppose the mission, which has already been approved by the Haitian government. Trump reportedly assured Bukele with the statement, "Do what you have to do," and expressed concern over four missing Salvadoran military personnel following an ambush in Haiti.

Initially, Bukele had suggested that El Salvador act as a US proxy force to stabilize Haiti. This idea was met with opposition by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who preferred to maintain a distance from the operation. Additionally, Bukele's request for US military equipment, including drones and transport aircraft, was denied. However, Colombia might provide an alternative route for supplying the necessary equipment to proceed with the mission without direct US involvement.

Haiti is currently grappling with severe gang violence, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 5,700 people this year. The violence has left communities in fear and disrupted access to essential services. In response, El Salvador announced on Wednesday the deployment of up to 2,000 troops, with the potential for further expansion.

"We didn't come to Haiti to make money, because no one is paying us to do it. We came to Haiti to fight against the wicked," Bukele stated Thursday on US social media platform X.