US media is reporting that Turkey and Qatar are among the countries vying to secure influence in the incoming Biden administration. According to the New York Times report:
November 17, 2020 WASHINGTON — The morning after Election Day, as votes were still being counted, diplomats from more than 20 foreign governments logged into a videoconference to hear Joe Lockhart, a veteran Democratic operative, provide what his consulting firm’s invitation described as “insider tips on how to make YOUR agenda happen in the aftermath of an election.” Over the next few days, as Joseph R. Biden Jr. accumulated the votes necessary to become the next president, representatives from countries and companies around the world began scrambling to secure representation from well-connected Democrats like Mr. Lockhart. Manny Ortiz, a Democratic lobbyist with ties to the party’s congressional leaders, said he received a string of inquiries from representatives for foreign governments — including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey — that had previously focused on strengthening ties to President Trump.
Read the rest here.
Global Influence Operations Report (GIOR) reporting on Qatari/Turkish lobbying/influence efforts has included:
- A report from earlier today that Democratic Congressmen are investigating Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald. Trump, partly in connection with financial assistance obtained from a company partly owned by Qatar.
- A report from October on what has been described as the ‘unusual’ hiring of a Democratic lobbying firm by the Qatari government, after years of attempts to get closer to President Trump and other prominent Republicans.
- A report from October that a board member of two organizations tied to Turkish President Erdoğan was present on two committees of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
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