“Lobbyists with Trump Ties Profit as Poor Nations Offer Minerals for US Help”

Struggling to secure U.S. backing amid global instability, several poor nations are now paying Trump-linked lobbyists to gain favor in Washington. But the cost is more than financial—it’s mineral wealth and strategic access.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has offered up its rich cobalt and lithium reserves to U.S. companies, facilitated by lobbyists from Ballard Partners. Somalia and Yemen have also signed substantial lobbying contracts to increase their influence in U.S. foreign policy.
These deals illustrate how U.S. lobbying firms have become gatekeepers to international support. Instead of diplomatic missions, nations now lean on corporate intermediaries with political clout.
The implications are vast. As power becomes privatized, and aid becomes a commodity, countries may be forced to auction off their sovereignty just to survive on the world stage.