According to a joint investigation by The Guardian and the Quincy Institute, Latin American elites have paid millions of dollars to hire elite Washington lobbyists in an attempt to influence the Trump administration.
Since Donald Trump‘s reelection campaign started in 2024, at least ten nations in Latin America and the Caribbean have registered senior officials or diplomatic envoys as foreign principals, according to public reports made under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
According to The Guardian, the lobbying efforts include demands for diplomatic access, energy investments, commercial agreements, and military assistance.
How are Latin American leaders influencing Trump’s White House?
For instance, President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador committed $1.5 million over the next three years and went on to gain an Oval Office visit, a nuclear energy contract, U.S. support in building a contentious mega-prison, and an enhancement in travel safety.
Another example is Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa, who, just before winning a contested election, used a contract with Mercury Public Affairs to secure increased arms shipments and a favorable U.S. intelligence assessment.
Meanwhile, Argentina’s President Javier Milei adopted a high-profile strategy by dining with Trump at Mar-a-Lago and attending CPAC with Elon Musk. These actions came before a $20 billion IMF agreement and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s visit to the South American nation. There will apparently be a meeting at the Oval Office and a trade agreement soon.
According to The Guardian, Damian Merlo, a Miami-based advisor with close Republican links, is responsible for a number of these lobbying connections. Merlo, who has worked for both Bukele and Milei, is still a key player in organizing access to Trump officials via companies such as Tactic Global. In an effort to defuse tensions with the Biden administration following Milei’s election victory in 2023, he cut relations with Merlo; nevertheless, since then, his connections with networks that support Trump have become stronger.
What role do GOP veterans play in this lobbying?
Key roles have also been performed by seasoned agents like Mauricio Claver-Carone and Otto Reich, who have long been influential in Republican foreign policy circles. Claver-Carone, who had played a key role in shaping anti-Cuba policies, is currently working with Secretary of State Marco Rubio as Trump’s special envoy to Latin America.
Another well-known figure who now advocates on behalf of a number of Caribbean countries is Carlos Trujillo, a former U.S. ambassador and Trump candidate. His company, Continental Strategy LLC, helped to organise a $23 billion purchase for major ports in Panama and recorded $3.6 million in income in early 2025.
Even while foreign countries frequently lobby during new administrations, researchers have noticed a rise in engagement from Latin America. “Latin American leaders will undoubtedly find more fertile breeding ground to pursue their interests now that some of these folks are in government or have direct access to government,” Jake Johnston of the Center for Economic and Policy Research told The Guardian.
