Denmark and other countries under pressure are looking for lobbyists with ties to Trump

The Danish government has historically not spent much on lobbying Washington. But just days before President Trump takes office for a second term, the Danish embassy has begun shopping for a lobbyist with ties to the new president, who has loudly announced his intention to try to seize the autonomous Danish territory of Greenland.

The Danes are not alone.

A number of countries that would be affected by Mr. Trump’s threatened purchases, tariffs, aid cuts or deportations are urgently seeking help from K Street to navigate his administration.

Panama, that is push back In response to Mr. Trump’s threat to roll back the Panama Canal, three days before the inauguration, he signed a deal that could pay a group of lobbyists, including prominent BGR Group ally David Urban, about $2.5 million over the next year, according to the Justice Department. lobbying documents.

BGR Group, a Republican-founded powerhouse founded in the 1990s, also signed on. A one-year contract worth $600,000 With the Somali embassy facing the prospect of a possible Mr Trump administration in late November reduce military cooperation.

South Korea, which could be hurt by the tariffs, expanded its lobbying corps after the election to bring in former Trump campaign adviser Bryan Lanza and his team at Mercury Public Affairs. lobby documents and the person familiar with the sign.

The increased interest from foreign governments in lobbyists with ties to the new administration underscores the uncertainty even among longtime US allies about Mr. Trump. Administration Reconciliation with Colombia tariffs and the deportation of illegal immigrants over the weekend showed how quickly any tensions can escalate.

Mr Trump’s call for help in his chaotic approach to foreign policy comes as his allies have increasingly become fixtures in Washington’s influence industry, in contrast to when he took office after a campaign.drain the swamp.” As recently as 2017, several established lobbying firms had ties to his new administration a wave of newcomers is making its way to K Streetthe city’s central boulevard, once home to the capital’s best lobbying firms.

However, the shopping spree for lobbyists in the early days of Mr. Trump’s second administration has created a dilemma for influencers who want to stay on his good side and protect their clients’ output while getting results for them. Representing a country targeted by Mr Trump could backfire on the former president sensitive to perceptions of infidelity or the dream of partners they profit from their affiliation with him.

The Danish embassy was returned by the firm of Brian Ballard, a top fundraiser for Mr. Trump, according to two people familiar with the country’s campaign, who spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose private discussions. Mr. Ballard’s Florida-based firm launched a Washington operation early in Mr. Trump’s first term, and he himself high demand since election night. The company declined to comment.

The Danes have also held talks with BGR Group, according to four people with knowledge of the discussions. One of them said that BGR Group did not want to accept the badge.

A spokesperson for BGR Group did not respond to requests for comment.

The Danish embassy said in a statement that it “has not hired a lobbying company on this issue.” He declined to say whether he was looking for one.

Denmark’s ambassador to the U.S., Jesper Moller Sorensen, also declined to discuss K Street’s advocacy in an interview, but said that “Denmark looks forward to a very constructive relationship with the Trump administration.”

Denmark’s effort to recruit a well-connected Washington hand comes amid growing concerns in Denmark and Greenland about Mr Trump’s intention to seize control of the island. hinted at the possibility of being using military force Facilitating the acquisition of Greenland, a strategically important Arctic island that is a self-governing territory of Denmark.

Danish and Greenlandic politicians have flatly rejected the prospect of a sale, sometimes in confrontational circumstances. The standoff is unlike anything the Danes have experienced in recent relations with the United States, one of Denmark’s biggest trading partners and a key ally.

It’s unclear when Danes retained a traditional Washington lobbyist last time. According to records filed with the Justice Department under the Foreign Agencies Registration Act, the State Department paid US consultants for the Biden administration and Mr. Trump’s first term on public relations related to American tourism. The last time the embassy paid for such assistance was in 2016, when it retained Fleishman-Hillard. for two months to help promote the trade mission.

The government-to-government relations that the Danes and Greenlanders rely on in Washington are not having the desired effect in the current situation.

Five days before Mr. Trump took office, his one controversial 45-minute phone call With the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen. He made various proposals for greater military and economic cooperation, but insisted that Greenland, already home to an important American base, was not for sale.

Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede told reporters on Tuesday that his government was trying to arrange a meeting with Mr Trump to discuss its objections to the sale.

“You can’t understand that if they want to talk about Greenland, they have to talk to Greenland.” said Mr. Egede.

Rufus Gifford, a key Democrat who served as the US ambassador to Denmark under President Barack Obama and is friends with the Danish king and other leaders there, said Mr Trump’s position has caused a crisis in the political class.

“They’re in shock, and that quickly turns into anger,” he said. “A Danish prime minister who loses Greenland to another country will be a laughing stock for the rest of his life.”

“They have limited cards,” said Mr. Gifford of the Danes, “but they have to play the cards they have and see what happens.”

The Panamanian government is also in a difficult position. It was a country calmed by Mr. Trump’s threats To restore the canal, which is important to the economy of Panama. Experts see the threat as a possible bargaining tactic to gain more favorable treatment for American ships using the passageway or additional commitments to curb the flow of migrants crossing the country toward the U.S. border.

Panama signed an agreement to pay BGR this month over $205,000 per month representing a year in Washington. As part of that representation, BGR agreed to pay the firm of Manny Ortiz, a lobbyist with ties to Democrats and Latin America, $100,000 a month. according to the contract He appealed to the Ministry of Justice.

The fees are greater than those stipulated in the contract that Panama BGR agreed to pay $60,000 a month About a year into the Biden administration.

The Trump administration’s commitment to acquiring the channel was underscored by Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s decision to visit the country during his first foreign trip, scheduled for later this week.

Elizabeth Bumiller and Jeffrey Gettleman contributed to the report.