Peter Schorsch
Qatar has hired Donald Trump-connected Ballard Partners for counsel and assistance related to its outreach to government officials and business/NGO executives in Washington and Florida.
The firm is to receive $2.1 million in fees, plus “reasonable costs,” during the one-year campaign that runs through March 31, 2019.
Brian Ballard chaired the Trump Victory organization in Florida during the 2016 presidential campaign. After Trump’s election, Ballard Partners expanded its operations to Washington, picking up more than $3.5 million in deals with major Capitol Hill clients, including Amazon.com ($140,000); American Road & Transport Builders Association ($200,000); Reynolds American ($220,000) Geo Group ($250,000) U.S. Sugar ($300,000), the governments of Turkey ($1.5 million), the Dominican Republic and Halkbank – the Turkish state-owned bank.
The firm also recently inked a deal with the Maldives for a one-year contract worth $600,000 to help build support from policymakers and the U.S. government.
Ballard Partners topped all Florida firms in lobbying compensation last year, bringing in an average of $4 million in fees each quarter for its legislative and executive work.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have led an economic blockade of Qatar for its alleged support of terror and cozy relations with Iran.
The whirlwind PR tour of the U.S. by Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has put a bright spotlight on the Kingdom’s spat with Qatar.
Ending the blockade was a priority of former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. His ouster was possibly accelerated by the UAE’s disapproval of his efforts to end the blockade.
The economic boycott of Qatar reportedly went into effect a month after a meeting between the Qatari finance minister and Charles Kushner, the father of White House adviser Jared, in which he sought a cash infusion for Kushner Cos.’ financially strapped 666 Fifth Ave. Manhattan office building.
The Qataris nixed the investment opportunity, and the White House then backed the blockade of Qatar, which hosts a key U.S. airbase.
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Material from O’ Dwyer’s PR News and Al-Monitor in this post.
