Vectus Global, a security firm led by Blackwater founder Erik Prince, is preparing to deploy hundreds of combatants from the US, Europe, and El Salvador to Haiti to combat the country’s gangs. The firm has been operating in Haiti since March and aims to help authorities regain control of key areas, with a 10-year deal reportedly including a role in Haiti’s tax-collection system. This deployment, which includes snipers, specialists, and equipment, has sparked concerns from human rights advocates who worry about the outsourcing of solutions and a further weakening of Haitian institutions. Despite Vectus’s existing presence and drone deployment, gangs continue to hold strategic dominance, raising questions about the effectiveness of this private military intervention and its impact on the Haitian police and the UN-backed security force.
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Russia’s Wagner mercenary group announced its departure from Mali, declaring their mission accomplished. This seemingly straightforward statement, however, is shrouded in a cloud of ambiguity and conflicting interpretations. While the group proclaims success, numerous accounts suggest a different narrative altogether.
The claim of a successful mission raises immediate questions. What, precisely, constituted this mission’s objectives and how were they achieved? The lack of transparency surrounding Wagner’s activities in Mali makes evaluating this claim incredibly difficult. Were the stated goals primarily focused on providing military training and support to the Malian government, or did they involve more extensive combat operations? Did they achieve their aims, or were they pushed out due to mounting pressure and setbacks?… Continue reading
Amidst escalating conflict in Ukraine and potential US withdrawal of support under a Trump presidency, discussions regarding deploying Western troops and private military companies to Ukraine have resurfaced. France and the UK are leading these sensitive, largely classified talks, with France initiating the troop deployment debate earlier this year. While facing opposition from some European nations, recent discussions between Prime Ministers Starmer and Macron have revitalized the proposal. This includes exploring increased defense cooperation, potentially utilizing private defense contractors like France’s DCI and its British counterpart, Babcock, for training and equipment maintenance in Ukraine.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood