The Turkish government has signed a year-long, $2.4 million contract with Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm with close ties to former US President Donald Trump. The agreement, effective August 8, involves government relations, strategic consulting, and advocacy services before the federal government. This marks a renewed engagement, as Ballard Partners previously worked for Turkey in 2017.The current contract's principal client is Turkey's Ministry of National Defense. A key objective for Ankara is rejoining the F-35 fighter jet program, from which it was removed in 2019. Turkey also aims to retrieve six F-35 jets manufactured for them but stored in the US.There is speculation that Turkey might sell its Russian-made S-400 air defense system to a third country, potentially the UAE, to influence Washington regarding sanctions. The lobbying team assigned to Turkey includes notable figures like former Democratic congressman Robert Wexler and Thomas Boodry, who previously served in Trump's National Security Council. Other team members have significant experience in Washington lobbying circles. Ballard Partners is a prominent lobbying firm, having generated substantial revenue in the first quarter of 2026.