Letter to the editor: Wagner America – War entrepreneurs

Dear editor, 

The drama that unfolded in the White House recently when President Trump and Vice-President Vance argued with President Zelensky of Ukraine offered made-for-TV excitement viewed by millions around the world.

Going into the meeting, we learned about the agreement Zelensky expected to sign, which gave the U.S. a percentage of Ukraine’s rich and rare minerals in exchange for offers of protection. The indecorous argument at the White House masqueraded a bigger story that has not been well-covered: Is the U.S. now offering mafioso style protection contracts to other countries? Is President Trump playing the role of Tony Soprano, offering the U.S. Defense Department to serve as his goon squad?

Offering transparent mercenary support to other countries, similar to what the Wagner Group and North Korea have been doing for Russia, is not something we are accustomed to seeing by the United States. Since our nation’s founding, we’ve flexed our muscles, provided dollars and arms all around the world to protect U.S. interests, including that of American corporations, most with disastrous results. Consider Anaconda and Kennecott copper companies doing business in Chile, or United Fruit Company in Guatemala, as two examples. We have made threats and actual invasions but typically these are in response to a perceived or direct threat to us, our financial interests, or an ally.

The latest scenario in Ukraine feels different. Now we are offering protection services to third party countries in exchange for a trillion dollar “deal,” as Trump calls it. Our President thrives on changing things up in a big way. He also thinks like a business owner, not like a statesman. It didn’t occur to our old guard political leadership to leverage our military investment in such a barefaced, entrepreneurial way.

Of course, many downsides exist to such an approach to international relations. We will lose all trust on the global stage. How will other countries, especially our allies, know if our votes and actions reflect our moral compass or an attempt to balance the budget? What happens if our deals run counter to NATO interests? What happens if and when the U.S. contractually needs to deploy “boots on the ground” and American body bags start piling up?

The mercenary marketplace, just like any open market chasing big money contracts, can be very strange and cutthroat. Ukraine’s mineral rights may be sufficiently compelling to entice China to drop their one-sided support for Russia and get involved in a new way. Sensing that a peace deal is forming, China may leverage its massive military to make commitments in exchange for access to precious minerals, leaving the U.S. and our allies holding nothing but our collective outrage. Similarly, the EU could independently sign a mineral deal to guarantee Ukraine security in exchange for a huge financial windfall.

“You don’t hold the cards,” Trump shouted at Zelensky during their meeting. Trump and Vance are making a huge mistake thinking Ukraine holds no cards. An isolated and desperate Ukraine can walk away from the U.S.’ years-long, multi-billion-dollar support by taking the same deal to other major powers, all because of Trump and Vance’s dreadful diplomatic performance.

-Robert Rieger