A new form of international diplomacy is unfolding in Washington’s corridors of power, where impoverished nations, reeling from US foreign-aid reductions, are paying millions to lobbyists linked to Donald Trump. This transactional model sees countries like Somalia, Yemen, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo vying for influence by offering their natural resources as leverage.
The financial commitments are staggering, with contracts sometimes reaching into the tens of millions of dollars. Instead of traditional aid, these agreements involve granting American corporations preferential access to vital natural resources. The DRC, for instance, is reportedly poised to offer rights to its significant deposits of lithium, cobalt, and coltan – minerals essential for electric vehicles and other high-tech industries – in exchange for crucial political and military support from the US.
Lobbying heavyweights such as Ballard Partners, founded by Trump’s former advisor Brian Ballard, are at the heart of these arrangements. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has already reportedly invested approximately $1.2 million with Ballard’s firm. Similarly, Somalia has paid BGR Government Affairs over $500,000, and Yemen has contributed over $370,000, underscoring the high stakes involved in this new influence game.
Critics, including Emily Stewart from Global Witness, are raising serious ethical questions. They argue that the drastic reduction in humanitarian funding is effectively cornering these vulnerable countries, forcing them into potentially exploitative deals where their invaluable natural resources are bartered under duress.