Fez – Morocco’s Embassy in Washington is expanding its efforts in the US with the signing of new lobbying contracts, including with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Field, one of Washington’s largest lobbyist firms.
The Moroccan embassy rounded out its new contracts with last month’s signing of contracts with Yorktown Solutions and Washington-powerhouse firm Akin Gump. The two new agreements followed the signing of a contract in April with Clout Public Affairs that appears to still be ongoing, with no filings showing the conclusion of the contract.
Top tier firms
Morocco’s DC presence was bolstered last month by two remarkable new agreements. The embassy signed an agreement with advisory firm Yorktown Solutions and made the news after reaching a deal with one of Washington’s top firms, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Field.
Commonly referred to as Akin Gump, the global firm is one of the largest and most influential lobbying firms in the US political scene. Akin Gump is famous for its high-level political activity, and notable alumni, which include several former senators and congresspeople.
Morocco’s case in Washington will be made by long-term Congresswoman and former House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. After a three-decade long career in the US House of Representatives, Ros-Lehtinen became a top lobbyist for Akin Gump.
She will be in charge of Morocco’s lobbying efforts in the US, providing experience and skill for Morocco’s expanding lobbying presence in Washington.
Expanding US clout
The new moves by the Moroccan embassy aim to bolster Morocco’s ties with the US on various levels, in a way that would help the North African country strengthen its strategic position at both the regional and international levels. Lobbying firms such as Akin Gump and Yorktown Solutions exert great influence on the US political system and any special interest that requires US political support commonly employs lobbyists.
Morocco made this the first lobbying disclosure to the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) since Rabat parted ways with its Republican-aligned lobbying team since former US President Donald Trump left the White House. FARA registers US citizens that work for foreign governments within the US political system.
The embassy still maintains a $40,000-per-month contract with ThirdCircle to work solely on tourism-related issues. The agreements are set to help both countries boost their strategic and bilateral relationship and will see Morocco represented by some of Washington’s best political players.
Morocco’s expanding political clout in the US capital comes at a time when Algeria’s presence is waning. Algeria is currently without a lobbyist firm at all, leaving Morocco’s representatives with an opportune moment to tell Morocco’s tory and expand its already strong ties with the US.
