Key facts
- U.S. security officials are planning to formalize closer ties with Erik Prince's private military company, Vectus Global, operating in Haiti.
- A U.S. military adviser confirmed a Haitian Task Force officer will be embedded in the joint operations center next week.
- Human Rights Watch reported an estimated 1,243 deaths from 141 drone operations linked to Vectus Global between March 2025 and January 2026.
- The U.S. government has no oversight over Vectus Global's operations in Haiti, according to a State Department official.
- Haiti's government contracted Vectus Global amid worsening security and the withdrawal of a U.N.-backed mission.
U.S. security officials are planning to deepen ties with Vectus Global, a private military company in Haiti founded by Erik Prince, a close ally of President Donald Trump. Colonel Justin Gorkowski, a U.S. military adviser, informed Congress that a Haitian Task Force officer will be embedded in the joint operations center next week, formalizing an existing informal coordination between U.S. forces and Vectus Global.
Human Rights Watch has raised concerns, estimating that drone strikes conducted by Vectus Global between March 2025 and January 2026 resulted in 1,243 deaths, including 43 civilian adults and 17 children, with an additional 738 people injured. The number of operations and casualties reportedly increased significantly between October and January.
Colonel Gorkowski acknowledged the situation as a "war situation" but stated that his team works to mitigate risks and that the Task Force strikes are becoming more discriminant and essential. He expressed confidence in the existing oversight structures. However, a State Department official speaking anonymously noted that U.S. citizens working for Vectus are not required to disclose their activities, and the U.S. government has no oversight over the company's operations.
Haiti's government contracted Prince's company amidst a severe security crisis, with powerful armed gangs controlling large parts of the country. This move comes after a previous Kenyan-led U.N.-backed mission struggled with resources and withdrew. The U.S. helps fund the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), which aims to increase its troop numbers significantly. Troops from various countries, including Chad, Sri Lanka, Ivory Coast, and Bangladesh, are expected to be deployed to different regions of Haiti.