In 2023, Turkey spent nearly $18 million on lobbying activities in the United States. While Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) spent approximately $4.5 million dollars, the majority of lobbying dollars were spent by two government-linked organizations: TÜRGEV and Ensar Foundation. Together, the two foundations spent more than $10 million (approximately 306 million Turkish Liras) on lobbying activities in Washington.
A total of $17,885,421 dollars was spent in the United States in 2023 by Turkey-based groups, including the ruling government. According to OpenSecrets, an organization which examines and records lobbying data, 2023 marked the first time lobbying expenditures of non-state institutions surpassed those of the state.
Ensar and TÜRGEV open their wallets
According to the data, most of the lobbying expenditures by Turkish institutions in Washington were made by the government or institutions close to the government. The figures show that TÜRGEV spent $5,920,000, Ensar Foundation spent $5,049,790, the AKP spent $4,500,000, and the government spent $1,894,602. Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) spent some $53,400.
Ensar Foundation had spent 999 thousand dollars for lobbying activities until December 22, 2023. However, according to current data, it is seen that Ensar Foundation has spent 5 million 49 thousand 790 dollars.
The data from 2023 shows the highest Turkish expenditure on Washington lobbying activities since 2018. 2018 was a year of turbulent US-Turkish relations, marked by a major crisis involving Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson. Brunson, an American citizen, was tried in Turkey’s third-largest city of Izmir on charges of “committing a crime on behalf of a terrorist organization and espionage” and was sentenced to over 3 years in prison. In addition to Brunson, the conviction of former Halkbank Deputy General Manager Hakan Atilla on charges of illegally violating Iran sanctions was another cause of poor relations between Washington and Ankara during this period.
As can be seen in the graph below, these events may explain why Turkey and Halkbank spent significant lobbying dollars during this period:
Who is doing Turkey’s lobbying?
The primary firms recruited by Turkey for lobbying have been: Saltzman & Evinch, LB International Solutions, Fridelander Consulting Group, Sporn & Kalman Chaim and Alexander Beckles. Saltzman & Evinch performed legal duties on behalf of Turkey following a diplomatic spat in which bodyguards belonging to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attacked protestors in Washington during a visit in March 2017. LB International Solutions is another company which has worked closely with Turkey since 2016.
Story by Senem Görür. Translated by Leo Kendrick
