The Turkish Ministry of National Defence has signed a $2.4 million lobbying contract with Washington-based firm Ballard Partners in an effort to rejoin the F-35 fighter jet program, according to US Department of Justice documents seen by Middle East Eye.
Under the one-year agreement signed on August 8, the Turkish defense ministry will pay Ballard Partners $200,000 per month. The firm will provide government relations, strategic consulting, and representation before the US federal government, while keeping Ankara informed of political developments and legislative movements in Congress.
Ballard Partners is headed by Brian Ballard, a prominent Florida Republican and party fundraiser who worked on Donald Trump's presidential campaign. The firm maintains close connections to Trump's political circle, having previously employed White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and former Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Unlike previous engagements, this agreement was executed specifically by Turkey's Ministry of National Defence rather than the Turkish government as a whole.
Past ties and growing influence
Ankara and Ballard Partners have a history of working together, according to Turkiye Today. In 2017, during Trump's first presidential term, Turkey hired the lobbying firm under a $1.5 million contract. That work reportedly focused on a sanctions evasion case involving state-owned Turkish lender Halkbank, in which charges were dropped by the Trump administration's Department of Justice earlier in 2026.
The 2017 deal marked one of the first major contracts for Ballard Partners after opening its Washington office. Since then, the firm has seen substantial commercial growth, generating more than $30 million in federal lobbying revenue in the first quarter of 2026 alone.
The F-35 dispute and S-400 missiles
Turkey was removed from the F-35 joint strike fighter program in 2019 following its acquisition of the S-400 missile defense system from Russia. The fifth-generation jet is widely regarded as one of the world's most advanced military aircraft, and Ankara has consistently sought reinstatement into the multi-nation procurement project.
While President Trump has expressed a positive stance toward resolving the dispute, opposition within the US Congress remains a key hurdle for Ankara. Several potential scenarios have been proposed to resolve the deadlock, including Turkey transferring or selling its Russian S-400 systems to a third country, such as the United Arab Emirates. Turkey is also seeking the delivery of six F-35 aircraft that were manufactured for its air force but have remained stored in the US for years.
The team handling the Turkish account
Filing documents reveal that the team assigned by Ballard Partners to represent Turkey includes former Florida Democratic Congressman Robert Wexler. Wexler co-founded the Congressional Caucus on US-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans in 2001, serves as president of the Washington-based S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace, and is known for his connections within pro-Israel groups.
The lobbying team also features Thomas Boodry, who served as a special assistant to Trump and senior director for legislative affairs on the National Security Council until April 2025. Boodry was dismissed alongside former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz after Trump fired six officials following a meeting with far-right activist Laura Loomer, who had presented opposition research alleging staff disloyalty.
Sylvester Lukis, a senior partner at Ballard Partners and key associate of Brian Ballard, also serves as a member of the team representing the Turkish defense ministry.
