Erik Prince, the controversial founder of Blackwater, is back at the center of global mercenary networks with his new company Vectus Global, positioning it as a “gap-filler” for countries where U.S. influence has waned. His operations span from Haiti and Ecuador to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), relying on private contracts with governments and local elites while maintaining close links to allies inside Donald Trump’s administration.

From Blackwater to Vectus

Prince, 56, sold Blackwater in 2010 after the company’s reputation collapsed following atrocities in Iraq, including the 2007 Nisour Square massacre. But under Trump, he has returned to prominence, touting his mercenaries as a cheaper, more flexible alternative to foreign aid or military deployments. “We don’t just advise, we act,” is Vectus’s slogan. At its peak, Blackwater had 20,000 contractors; Vectus currently fields only dozens but aims to expand.

Evolution of Erik Prince’s Private Security Ventures: Timeline & Highlights

1997–2009: Blackwater / Blackwater Worldwide

• 1997: Erik Prince and Al Clark founded Blackwater USA, a private security and training firm headquartered in North Carolina with a sprawling training facility in the Great Dismal Swamp.
• 2003–2006: Blackwater secures major U.S. government contracts, including embassy security and training, becoming the State Department’s largest private security provider. Up to $600 million in classified contracts were awarded by the CIA during this period.
• 2007: After the Nisour Square massacre, where Blackwater guards killed 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad, the company faces global condemnation and scrutiny.
• 2009: In the wake of mounting investigative and congressional pressure, Blackwater rebrands as Xe Services LLC, with Prince stepping down as CEO in March but retaining his role as chairman.

2010–2014: Academi

• 2010: Erik Prince sells the company to investor group USTC Holdings and exits executive control.
• 2011: The firm is rebranded Academi, undergoing leadership restructuring and aiming to distance itself from its controversial legacy.
• 2012: Academi pays $49.5 million to settle federal arms trafficking charges tied to Prince’s previous tenure.

2014–present: Constellis Holdings

• 2014: A merger of Academi with Triple Canopy and other firms forms Constellis Holdings.
• 2016: Constellis is acquired by private equity firm Apollo Global Management.
• 2020: Reports surface of Constellis facing significant debt issues and probing for restructuring.

2012–2021: Frontier Resource Group & Frontier Services Group

• 2012: Prince launches Frontier Resource Group, focusing on private equity investments.
• By 2014: He chairs Frontier Services Group, a logistics and aviation company listed in Hong Kong, engaging in deals across Africa (e.g., South Sudan oil, Chinese-backed aviation logistics).
• 2021: Steps down from his role as chairman, marking a retreat from the company.

Since March 2025: Vectus Global

• March 2025: Erik Prince establishes Vectus Global, a new private security network operating in regions like Haiti, Ecuador, and the DRC.
• August 2025: Vectus signs a 10-year deal with Haiti to fight gangs and manage tax collection at the Dominican border. The operation uses drones and plans to deploy hundreds of foreign-trained fighters, helicopters, and boats.

Drone warfare in Haiti

Prince’s most controversial deal so far is in Haiti, where his team signed a one-year government contract to fight gangs using drones adapted with explosives, borrowing tactics from the Ukraine war. According to a U.N. report, the operations killed at least 233 gang members and three civilians between April and May. Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé defended the contract, saying Prince’s forces achieved results at a fraction of the $1 billion spent by the U.N. on previous peacekeeping. Yet critics, including former U.S. envoy Dan Foote, warn foreign-led private security risks deepening instability.

Mining and minerals in Africa

In December, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi hired Prince to secure tax collectors at as many as 40 mines, including cobalt sites vital to U.S. tech industries. The $30 million plan is funded from mine tax revenues. Prince is also negotiating to bring Salvadoran mercenaries to protect Kinshasa’s presidential palace amid coup rumors.

Latin American footholds

Prince has courted leaders like Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa, promoting counter-narcotics support, and El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, where he proposed using maximum-security prisons to house U.S.-deported migrants — a plan aligned with Trump’s hardline immigration agenda. Critics inside Ecuador’s military intelligence call his presence “an insult” to national security forces.

Trump connection

Prince remains close to Trump’s orbit, maintaining contact with figures like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and envoy Steve Witkoff. After Trump survived an assassination attempt, Witkoff reportedly sought Prince’s advice on personal security. Though the White House denies formal involvement, Prince ensures his ventures do not contradict U.S. policy, effectively aligning Vectus with Trump’s “America First” strategy abroad.