Pakistan Army reportedly signs drone pact with US firm linked to Trump sons

US defence technology company Powerus has signed a memorandum of understanding with Pakistan’s military and secured an initial order for unmanned aerial systems, marking a fresh expansion of defence cooperation between Islamabad and Washington as bilateral ties warm. The agreement came as a Powerus delegation met Pakistan Army chief and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, where the two sides discussed defence procurement, production and long-term capacity building.

Initial drone order

Powerus co-founder Brett Velicovich confirmed that the agreement included an initial drone-related order but declined to disclose its value or technical specifications, citing confidentiality and security sensitivities. The company subsequently said it had received a limited procurement order from Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence covering unmanned aerial systems and associated support. The separate MoU provides a framework for potentially expanding cooperation in unmanned and autonomous defence technologies, although future programmes would require definitive agreements and relevant government approvals.

Powerus, which develops aerial and maritime unmanned systems for military and industrial applications, is also exploring opportunities to manufacture technology in Pakistan. Velicovich said the longer-term objective was to combine American and Pakistani technologies, while company executives have identified Pakistan’s developing private defence industry as an area offering considerable scope for collaboration. The agreement could therefore extend beyond equipment purchases to production, technology development and capacity building.

Trump sons connection

The deal has attracted attention because Powerus is preparing to merge with US-listed Aureus Greenway Holdings, a company backed by an investment fund in which US President Donald Trump’s sons have financial interests. Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump hold an indirect stake in Aureus through American Ventures. Regulatory filings show that the fund is expected to hold a 9.9 per cent beneficial ownership stake in the combined company after the proposed merger, which is expected to close in early October.

Powerus has rejected suggestions that its business expansion was connected to the Trump family relationship. Company founder and chief executive Andrew Fox said contracts were secured on merit and that Trump’s sons had no involvement in the company’s business operations. A spokesperson for Donald Trump Jr described him as a passive investor and said he had no prior knowledge of the Pakistan agreement or role in its negotiation, procurement or execution. The White House has also said there was no conflict of interest.

US-Pakistan ties warm

The agreement comes amid a broader improvement in relations between Washington and Islamabad after years of strained ties. Trump has publicly praised Munir, while Pakistan has pursued a series of economic, financial and defence initiatives with the United States. Pakistan’s military confirmed Wednesday’s meeting with the Powerus delegation and said discussions covered defence procurement, production and long-term capacity building, although its initial statement did not mention the MoU.

The emerging partnership is also significant given Pakistan’s longstanding reliance on Chinese defence equipment. Powerus executives have argued that Washington had historically been reluctant to provide certain drone technologies to countries such as Pakistan while China had been far more willing to supply military systems. The new agreement suggests that unmanned systems could now become another area of expanding US-Pakistan defence cooperation.