A Look at Ballard Partners’ Work with Foreign Government Clients

by / ⠀political / August 11, 2025
A Look at Ballard Partners’ Work with Foreign Government Clients
A Look at Ballard Partners’ Work with Foreign Government Clients
Ballard Partners is a government relations and public affairs firm founded in Tallahassee, Florida, with additional offices in Washington, DC, and throughout the United States. Known for its unparalleled experience, dedicated advocacy, and deep connections with decision-makers, Ballard Partners has worked with several foreign governments over the years, including those of Japan, Taiwan, and Guatemala, among others. This advocacy work has resulted in “win-win” results that have strengthened ties between the US and many countries around the world.

Ballard Partners

Japan

Over the past two years, Ballard has worked with the Japanese government, facilitating meetings and interactions with journalists and important contacts in the US government. The Japanese government initially contracted with Ballard in anticipation of a visit to Tokyo by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2023. At that time, there was an expectation that DeSantis could be a forerunner for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, and the Japanese government accordingly sought to establish closer ties and communications with his camp. As DeSantis prepared to lead the summer business delegation to Tokyo, Ballard was the natural choice for Japan due to the firm’s many longstanding ties and staff connections to DeSantis. DeSantis’ former chief of staff Adrian Lukis and former deputy chief of staff Courtney Coppola led the account at Ballard, with the assistance of Dane Eagle, previously head of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity under DeSantis. The collaboration was part of an ongoing effort by the Japanese government to establish stronger relationships in Washington, DC, and various state capitals, in anticipation of administration changes in early 2025. In 2024, Ballard Partners continued its work advocating on behalf of Japan as it became clearer that Donald Trump might return to the White House. At the same time, Ballard also established closer ties within the Japanese political landscape by inking a partnership with the Japanese public affairs firm KyodoPR. Ballard additionally represented Nippon Steel, Japan’s largest steelmaker, in Washington; the company later finalized a historic deal with US Steel in mid-June 2025.
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Taiwan and Guatemala

In the second quarter of 2025, Ballard signed with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States, which acts as Taiwan’s embassy in the absence of formal diplomatic relations with the US. The six-month contract will see Ballard provide strategic communications and consulting services aimed at maintaining and deepening relationships and representation for Taiwan as it continues to assert its independence in the face of rising tensions with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Members of Congress in the US have increasingly signaled support for Taiwan, as global fears of military hostilities between the PRC and Taiwan continue to rise. While Taiwan is claimed by the PRC, it has begun to assert greater agency, including by opening its own de-facto embassies around the world. Ballard will spend the rest of 2025 working to further Taiwan’s goals of self-determination and international cooperation. Previously, in 2022, Taiwan funded a $900,000 contract between Ballard and Guatemala, positioning the firm to represent the small Latin American country in a number of areas, including communications, tourism, foreign investment, and economic opportunities. Guatemala is one of the few countries in the world—and in Central America in particular—that recognizes Taiwan’s sovereignty and has full diplomatic relations with the island.

Work with Other Countries

Besides Taiwan, Guatemala, and Japan, Ballard has advocated on behalf of several other countries, including Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Turkey, Qatar, Kosovo, Maldives, and Mali. For example, Ballard’s work with the Dominican Republic saw it help the Caribbean nation obtain desperately needed, life-saving COVID-19 drugs at the height of the pandemic in July 2020. At that time, supplies were being stockpiled. Leveraging its close ties with the Trump White House and FDA, Ballard was able to help cut through the red tape, putting in motion a solution to release the medication within hours. 

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About The Author

Educator. Writer. Editor. Proofreader. Lauren Carpenter's vast career and academic experiences have strengthened her conviction in the power of words. She has developed content for a globally recognized real estate corporation, as well as respected magazines like Virginia Living Magazine and Southern Review of Books.

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