The profit of conflict
The presence of mercenaries and private security contractors in warzones is nothing new, only now they are being paid for in resources. It is suspected that most Middle Eastern conflicts have some variant of this deal, but none are as explicit as the contracts Russia has with Syria. So far, two Russian companies are known to have received a contract: Evro Polis, which is set to receive profits from oil and gas wells, and Stroytransgaz, which signed a phosphate mining deal for a site that was under militant control at the time.
The deals are different from similar arrangements that are common practice for companies outsourcing security in Middle Eastern hot spots in that it is specified that the oil wells are to be captured first and then protected. “If a company provides security then the country getting the service should pay, it doesn´t matter how the payment is made.” Oh Russia, once again you display your famous grace.
While the deals were classified under corporate secrets, a private security consultant was asked for a comment about the nature of these deals, he simply responded with “War is business.”
Both founders of those companies were placed under sanctions from the US and EU for exploiting oil production on former battlegrounds and the import of Syrian oil was banned.
Russian involvement is to be expected, since they supported the Syrian regime from the onset of the civil war, and are competing with Iran for influence in the region. Russian mercenaries are also training a local Syrian militia who became known as the ISIS Hunters.
