Latin American and Caribbean governments are pouring millions into U.S. lobbying efforts to curry favor with the Trump administration, according to a joint investigation by The Guardian and the Quincy Institute.
These campaigns seek favorable trade agreements, military aid, energy deals, and high-level diplomatic access.
El Salvador Secures Deals Through Lobbying
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele invested $1.5 million in lobbying efforts that have already resulted in a U.S.-backed nuclear energy partnership, support for his controversial mega-prison expansion, an Oval Office meeting, and improved travel security status.
Argentina and Ecuador Join Influence Campaign
Argentina’s President Javier Milei used a combination of public appearances—dining at Mar-a-Lago and speaking at CPAC with Elon Musk—to secure a $20 billion IMF deal and a visit from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa hired Mercury Public Affairs to push for arms shipments and favorable U.S. intelligence assessments before his contested election victory.
Key Republican Power Brokers Drive Access
Much of the lobbying is coordinated through figures close to Trump, including Damian Merlo, who has advised both Bukele and Milei. Merlo is closely tied to firms like Tactic Global and plays a central role in arranging access to Trump’s circle. Other key players include veteran Republican operatives Otto Reich, Mauricio Claver-Carone, and Carlos Trujillo. Trujillo’s firm, Continental Strategy LLC, reportedly earned $3.6 million in early 2025 and helped broker a $23 billion port deal in Panama.
A Surge in Latin American Lobbying
Experts note that lobbying by foreign governments is not unusual but say Latin American interest in the Trump administration has surged. “Now that some of these folks are in government or have direct access to government, Latin American leaders will certainly find more fertile breeding ground to pursue their interests,” said Jake Johnston of the Center for Economic and Policy Research.
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