US failure to tackle Russia’s fearful
US failure to tackle Russia’s fearful
A network of Russian mercenaries linked to the Kremlin has wreaked havoc in Africa, the Middle East, and most recently Ukraine for nearly a decade.
Many of them now express regret that the US government did not do more to help them.
As US officials and national security experts have noted, Russian President Vladimir Putin is increasingly relying on the Wagner Group as a private and unaccountable army that allows Russia to pursue its foreign policy goals at a lower cost and without the political fallout that can result from foreign military intervention.
According to US officials and international watchdogs, governments in the Middle East and Africa have hired the fighters in recent years to crush insurgencies, protect natural resources, and provide security — all while committing grave human rights abuses.
Sledgehammer-wielding Wagner fighters in Syria were filmed joyously beating an army deserter before cutting off his head. Mercenaries raped, tortured, and murdered civilians in the Central African Republic, according to UN investigators. With explosives attached to toilet seats and teddy bears, Wagner allegedly bombed civilian homes in Libya. According to German intelligence, Wagner mercenaries have been implicated in the killings of dozens of people in Ukraine.
According to interviews with more than 15 current and former diplomatic, military, and intelligence officials, the United States was slow to respond to the threat and is now struggling to restrain the use of mercenaries around the world. The group has not been deterred by unilateral sanctions. Diplomacy has fallen flat.
As former assistant secretary of state for African affairs (a position he held until 2021) Tibor Nagy noted, "There was no unified or systematic US policy toward the group.
"Private army’s expansion could help Russia evade sanctions, win support at UN and secure strategic positions in fight against NATO
Although Russia denies any involvement with Russian mercenaries operating abroad, there is still a great deal of mystery surrounding Wagner's organisation and leadership. There are reports that top Russian officials have met with foreign leaders at Wagner's invitation, according to these experts. As a part of their international missions, they claim Russian air force has transported Wagner fighter aircraft.
Experts say that Wagner has spread around the world, particularly in Africa, because it offers an enticing package to embattled leaders. To quell the threat of terrorism and rebellion, it offers brutal military repression along with disinformation campaigns to rally public support for their government's clients.
According to US officials, the country's diplomatic efforts in Africa have been hampered by a lack of funding over the past three decades, making it feel underprepared to deal with the mercenaries' incursions. Another claim was made by some critics who argued that before Wagner became a formidable weapon for Russia, the United States was slow to recognise its seriousness.
Government officials in Africa claim that American efforts to persuade governments not to work with Wagner have been slow and ineffective. With limited resources and incentives, US diplomats are scrambling to counter Wagner's influence in a faltering country.
During the Cold War, the United States made a significant investment in wooing African leaders, offering aid, university exchange programmes, and even concerts in an effort to contain the spread of Soviet Communism. Officials tell ProPublica that the US government's interest in Africa waned after the fall of the Berlin Wall. As a result, embassy staffs and programmes shrank.
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