Turkey Hires High-Caliber Lobbyists for Washington Outreach

The Turkish government recently contracted the political consulting firm Ballard Partners, with close ties to the U.S. administration under former President Donald Trump, in an effort to re-engage with the F-35 program. This US$ 2.4 million, one-year contract aims to provide strategic services to Ankara, including governmental relations and advocacy work in Washington D.C. The choice of Ballard Partners, a firm with significant experience in the capital, reflects Turkey's interest in leveraging political connections to advance its international goals. This move comes after Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 due to its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system. Re-engaging as an F-35 supplier could bring significant economic benefits to Turkey's aerospace sector and strengthen bilateral relations between Ankara and Washington.