Impoverished nations are signing high-priced lobbying contracts to gain U.S. political and military support—often at the cost of their own mineral wealth. The brokers of these deals? Lobbyists with close ties to Donald Trump.
Ballard Partners and BGR Government Affairs, both well-connected in Trump’s political orbit, are leading these efforts. Countries like the DRC, Somalia, and Yemen are paying millions to these firms in hopes of staying on Washington’s radar.
The deals are often tied to key mineral rights. The DRC is offering access to lithium and cobalt—materials critical to U.S. energy and tech industries—in exchange for security assistance and diplomatic engagement.
This trend reflects a troubling reality: as global power becomes transactional, the poorest countries are left to trade away their future for short-term survival. Critics say the practice deepens inequality and corrupts the foundation of international diplomacy.
