US combatants from Europe and El Salvador will be deployed to Haiti in coming weeks as part of a mission aimed at battling the country’s gangs. The effort is led by Erik Prince, founder of security firm Vectus Global, which has been operating in Haiti since March.
Prince’s company aims to help authorities regain control over key roads and territories from heavily armed criminal groups. Under a 10-year deal with Haiti’s government, Vectus will play a role in the country’s tax-collection system.
The deployment comes after an escalation of violence in Haiti, which has left thousands dead and the capital city largely cut off since February. Armed groups have been waging a joint offensive against the government, toppling the prime minister and commandeering virtually the entire city.
Human rights advocates have raised concerns about the use of private military contractors, citing it as an example of “outsourcing” Haitian problems to foreigners instead of strengthening local institutions like the police. Critics argue that this approach could undermine efforts by domestic forces that are already under-resourced and unsupported.
The deployment is part of a broader effort to provide security assistance to Haiti amid its crisis. However, the success of this mission remains uncertain, with some experts predicting it may not go well.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/14/erik-prince-blackwater-haiti