American Arrested for Terror Training in India: The Many Faces of Matthew VanDyke
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Matthew VanDyke, an American national, along with six Ukrainians, for alleged involvement in drone warfare training, illegal border crossings, and links to armed groups near India's North-Eastern region. The arrests, made last week, have brought to light VanDyke's multifaceted and controversial background.
Who is Matthew VanDyke?
Matthew VanDyke presents himself with a variety of titles on his social media profiles. He claims to be an American spy, an international security analyst, a foreign fighter, a media personality, and even a documentary filmmaker. However, what stands out most prominently is his self-proclaimed role as the "founder of the non-profit organisation Sons of Liberty International (SOLI)".
According to his Wikipedia page, which he has shared on his X profile, VanDyke first gained notoriety during the Libyan Civil War. He fought as a foreign fighter on the side of the uprising against Muammar Gaddafi and was later held as a prisoner of war. His X profile further reads, "Founder, Sons of Liberty International. Fought in Libya+Ukraine. Run covert ops in Venezuela. FREE IRAN. And more..."
The NIA Investigation and Arrests
The NIA alleges that all seven accused entered India illegally and imported drones from Europe for training purposes. On March 16, a special NIA court remanded them in custody until March 27. The agency is currently probing how they managed to enter India, particularly Mizoram, which is a restricted territory for foreigners. From there, they allegedly crossed over into neighbouring Myanmar.
Sources indicate that the investigation is also focusing on individuals who provided logistical support for their travel within India and their subsequent crossing into Myanmar. In a statement on March 18, the NIA said, "since the case is in the initial stage of investigation, we will not be able to share the details at this stage. The same will be shared at an appropriate time."
VanDyke was arrested from Kolkata airport on March 13. Three Ukrainian nationals were picked up from Lucknow airport, and the remaining three from Delhi airport on the same day. They have been charged under relevant sections, including Section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
International Reactions
The reaction from the US Embassy in India has been muted. A spokesperson stated, "We are aware of the situation. However, for privacy reasons, we cannot comment on cases involving US citizens." In contrast, the Ukraine Embassy has been critical of the arrest of its six nationals and has sought consular access to them.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) addressed the issue on Thursday, confirming that it has received a request for consular access from Kyiv. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that relevant government agencies are handling the matter in line with domestic laws and international obligations, ensuring that legal processes are followed carefully.
The Ukraine Embassy issued a detailed statement expressing serious concern. It said, "Taking into account publicly available information in the case concerning the detention of six citizens of Ukraine, including media reports indicating that the initiation of this proceeding was prompted by information provided by the Russian side, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of India expresses serious concern regarding the presence of circumstances that point to a possible orchestrated and politically motivated nature of this case, as evidenced, in particular, by the facts known at this stage."
This case highlights the complexities of international security and the challenges faced by Indian authorities in monitoring and preventing illegal activities by foreign nationals on Indian soil.
