How America's Use Of Contractors In Its 'War On Terror' Led To Creation Of Russia's Wagner Militia

The rise of Wagner in Russia and its operations can be traced back to the U.S. heavy reliance on PMCs during its ‘war on terror, which inspired other nations, including Moscow, to outsource warfare.

Ibrahim Al-Marashi, an associate professor at the Department of History, California State University, San Marcos, in an op-ed, said that the U.S. employment of contractors, which has surged in the past two decades, might have inspired Russia to rely on private military companies, Al Jazeera reported.

“The Kremlin likely watched closely the U.S. government's use of contractors in Afghanistan and Iraq and understood their utility. According to some observers, Putin likely wanted a Russian version of Blackwater to use in his foreign policy adventures,” Al-Marashi wrote.

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During the “war on terror,” up to 50% of American forces were privately contracted. This reliance on PMCs was driven by the need for personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq, coupled with concerns of domestic backlash. The Pentagon has spent $14 trillion since the war’s inception, with a significant portion going to military contractors.

Why It Matters: In the wake of Wagner PMC’s mutiny in Russia, the company’s founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was anticipated to face severe consequences. However, he was merely sent to “exile” in Belarus, and his mercenaries continued their operations, especially in Africa.

Al-Marashi wrote that such tactics offer plausible deniability, reduce potential domestic tensions, and even bypass international legal constraints. He added that the Nisour Square massacre in 2007, involving Blackwater contractors, is a stark example of the potential consequences of outsourcing war. The incident led to anti-American sentiments in Iraq, indirectly paving the way for groups like ISIL.

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