Erik Prince (AP file photo)
Blackwater founder Erik Prince is seeking business deals in Ukraine’s drone sector amid reports of Donald Trump’s administration considering using American private military contractors in the country, The Guardian reported, citing multiple sources. According to the report, Prince, a longtime Trump ally, has been meeting industry players in Kyiv and pitching himself to acquire local drone companies. He has been aggressively looking to buy firms involved in Ukraine’s drone technology, which has become central to the war. Prince’s interest comes at a time when Trump is pushing for a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow, though without results so far. Drones have accounted for nearly 80% of Russian casualties in the conflict, turning Ukraine into a hub for Western investors and defence firms eager to tap battlefield data and technology. The Guardian noted that Prince has a history of profit-seeking in conflict zones. His company Blackwater rose to prominence during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but was blacklisted after a 2007 massacre in Baghdad carried out by its contractors. Since then, Prince has been linked to controversial operations, including advising a drone assassination programme in Haiti this year. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has announced plans to massively expand America’s drone production, with edfence secretary Pete Hegseth declaring in July that the US must “unleash drone dominance.” Business leaders, including former Google chief Eric Schmidt and ex-CIA director David Petraeus, have also entered the field with their own ventures.
