WASHINGTON, July 16 — The figure that matters: a 2024 Reuters investigation found that a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran controlled companies that operated aircraft used by the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. It is the latest instance of former Green Berets operating in the gray zones of international conflict. The bottom line: America’s most elite soldiers are building a parallel defense economy, one that increasingly operates beyond the reach of traditional military command and government oversight.
The U.S. Army Special Forces—the Green Berets—were established in 1952. They have been involved in numerous conflicts, including the Vietnam War, the War in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War.
But the business of war does not end with leaving active duty. After leaving active duty, many Special Forces veterans have entered the private military and security industry. The industry has produced some of the most recognizable names in private security.
Blackwater was founded in 1997 by Erik Prince, a former Navy SEAL. Triple Canopy followed in 2003, founded by former Special Forces soldiers.
Both companies have been contracted by the U.S. government and foreign governments to provide security, training, and logistics support. The Reuters investigation in 2024 documented a specific case: a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran controlled companies that operated aircraft used by the RSF in Sudan. The RSF, or Rapid Support Forces, have been accused of widespread atrocities in Sudan’s civil war.
This is not the first time U.S. veterans have been linked to controversial operations abroad. In 2020, a former Green Beret was convicted for his role in a failed coup in Venezuela. That case drew attention to the legal risks veterans face when they take their skills into foreign conflicts without government authorization.
The U.S. Department of Justice has prosecuted cases under the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, known as ITAR, for unauthorized exports of defense services. These laws are designed to control the flow of American military expertise and equipment.
But enforcement is uneven, and the private military industry operates in what experts describe as legal gray areas.
Legal and ethical questions
The involvement of U.S. veterans in foreign conflicts raises legal and ethical questions. They may operate in gray areas of international law, where the lines between private security contractor, mercenary, and legitimate defense consultant blur. Investors will note that the private military industry continues to grow.
The demand for security, training, and logistics support from governments and corporations shows no sign of slowing. But the legal risks for companies and individuals operating in conflict zones remain significant.
The Pentagon has not commented on the Reuters findings. The Department of Justice continues to investigate cases involving unauthorized defense exports. For now, the business of war remains a profitable but legally treacherous field for the men who once wore the Green Beret.
What to watch next: whether the Trump administration tightens enforcement of ITAR and the Arms Export Control Act, or whether the private military industry continues to operate in the shadows of international conflict.
