India has hired the lobbying firm Mercury Public Affairs LLC to enhance its interaction with the US administration led by Donald Trump, when bilateral tensions are increasing.
According to a filing with the US Department of Justice, India has committed to paying Mercury $75,000 per month for "public relations, communications, and government relations advice and services, including outreach to US media and government officials."
The company, which had previous White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles as an employee, has enlisted two prominent players—former Republican Senator from Louisiana David Vitter and former Trump campaign communications director Bryan Lanza—to work on India's representation.
Mercury Global Affairs LLC, with 14 US offices and more than 550 global clients, emphasizes its services in fields like crisis management, grassroots coalition building, political consulting, and running public affairs campaigns. With this new deal, India's overall monthly outlay on Washington lobbying has risen to $275,000.
In addition, New Delhi also has a $150,000-a-month deal with SHW Partners LLC, whose current head is former Trump adviser Jason Miller. India further pays $50,000 a month to BGR Partners, which is among Washington's highest-grossing lobbying firms, and has also represented such nations as South Korea, Serbia, Panama, and Cyprus.
The sudden spurt in lobbying activities is merely a few days ahead of August 27, when a 25% penalty tariff on India will become operational. This penalty tariff is on top of the already imposed 25% retaliatory tariff on Indian exports. The action also follows Pakistan intensifying its campaign in Washington. A recent report by HT (August 14) found that Pakistan's expenditure on US lobbying and strategic communication companies is almost three times that of India's—at approximately $600,000 per month across six firms. These companies are responsible for providing Pakistan with greater access to influential centers of power within the White House, Congress, the State Department, and the Pentagon.
For India, the figures are especially alarming in light of increasing influence Islamabad seems to be gaining under Trump's second term. Pakistan has recently arranged a meeting between its Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and President Trump. Further, it has attempted to attract American attention by highlighting opportunities for investment in Pakistan's mineral and energy sectors. The Trump administration has also started recognising Pakistan as an important partner in anti-terrorism.
