That is particularly the case of the PMSCs originating in Russia and China, which retain close connections to the governments and are used in pursuit of the state’s strategic interests, possibly expanding their undue influence in local countries or aiding non-democratic actors. These factors, combined with the general lack of oversight and accountability of PMSCs, threaten to destabilize the situation in regions of their deployment. This article provides an insight into current modus operandi of Russian and Chinese PMSCs and offers predictive assessments regarding their future use, with the purpose of drawing the resulting implications for NATO’s interests and security in its Areas of Relevance.
