Morocco Pays $35,000 a Month to Gain Influence in Washington
Morocco has just hired an American agency to strengthen its communications in the United States. The contract provides for $35,000 a month and details how Rabat intends to better convey its messages in Washington.
The arrangement took effect on August 6. According to O’Dwyer’s, an American media outlet specializing in public relations, Qorvis has signed an initial six-month contract with Morocco, with the possibility of extending it to one year. The bill will therefore amount to at least $210,000 and could rise to $420,000.
On Bladi.net : article 114291
This is not simply a matter of producing a few press releases. The agency must provide strategic advice, develop Moroccan messages, amplify their distribution across digital platforms, mobilize intermediaries capable of promoting them, organize events, and become involved in managing sensitive issues. A five-person team is assigned to Morocco.
Trump and the Sahara at the Heart of Communications
Qorvis is not arriving in Washington without experience with Moroccan issues, however. A few days before the new contract took effect, the agency had already distributed, on behalf of Morocco, a press release devoted to Donald Trump’s reaffirmation of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara.
The message emphasized the strength of the relationship between Rabat and Washington. It also highlighted Mohammed VI’s decision to name the Tiznit-Dakhla expressway “Donald J. Trump Highway,” a 1,055-kilometer route linking the south of the kingdom.
This communication, issued a few days before the new contract, shows that Qorvis was already working on Moroccan issues in the United States. The mandate that took effect on August 6 now formalizes and strengthens this strategy with a precise monthly budget and a much broader scope of intervention.
The choice of Qorvis shows above all that Rabat is not relying solely on traditional diplomatic channels to consolidate its positions in the United States. The mandate also covers how Moroccan arguments are formulated, relayed, and made visible to audiences likely to matter in Washington.
On Bladi.net : Trump opens the door to Moroccan phosphates, Washington wants to close it
The timing is particularly favorable to Morocco. Rabat is seeking to capitalize on its relationship with the Trump administration, particularly on the Sahara issue. To strengthen this influence and amplify its messages in the United States, the kingdom is now prepared to spend $35,000 each month on a communications strategy specifically designed for Washington.