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Guatemala has hired Ballard Partners for a $900K one-year strategic communications push to keep the Central American nation updated on legislative developments in the US.
Corruption, migration and human smuggling plague Guatemala, which is one of the poorest nations in Latin America
Guatemala is part of the so-called “Northern Triangle” region that sends floods of migrants to the US.
Vice president Kamala Harris traveled to Guatemala in June and warned potential asylum seekers not to come to the US.
She had a Jan. 10 phone conversation with Guatemalan president Alejandro Giammetti in which she highlighted how corruption undermines faith in public trust and effective governance. Harris also promised to work with Giammetti in the area of economic development.
Taiwan is picking up Guatemala’s PR tab at Ballard Partners.
Guatemala and Honduras are the only countries in Central America that still recognize Taiwan as the legitimate government of China.
Panama, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic and El Salvador have dropped Taiwan in favor of the People’s Republic of China in recent years.
Ballard Partners is the firm of Brian Ballard, the Republican fundraiser with close ties to ex-president Donald Trump and Florida governor Ron DeSantis.
He spearheads the firm’s Guatemalan team that includes Jose Diaz, executive VP and Miami office head; John O’Hanlon, long-time Democratic operative; and Justin Sayfie, ex-spokesperson for Florida Governor Jeb Bush.
Havas Media Germany has hired Piro Inc. to further the digital push of the Israel Government Advertising Agency to sway US public opinion.
Hogan Lovells has signed a $100K monthly pact to represent Venezuela’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, and its Washington embassy.
Liberia has agreed to pay a $100K monthly retainer to Ballard Partners for counsel on how to improve its relations with the US.
Romania has signed a $565K monthly contract with Eversheds Sutherland for strategic counsel and government relations activities.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office has enlisted Checkmate Government Relations for strategic counsel under a six-month pact worth $300K.
