Public records filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) reveal a significant disparity in lobbying expenditures between Morocco and Algeria in the United States. In 2025, Moroccan interests reported spending approximately $21.6 million on lobbying and public relations efforts, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets. In contrast, Algerian interests reported expenditures of about $1.2 million for the same period.
The lobbying efforts for Morocco are primarily conducted by well-established firms in Washington, D.C., such as Greenberg Traurig and Mercury Public Affairs. These firms advocate on issues including U.S. recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara, security cooperation, and trade relations. Algeria's lobbying, handled by a smaller set of firms, has focused on human rights and regional stability.
This spending gap reflects the two nations' competing strategic priorities in Washington. Morocco has deepened its ties with the U.S. through a series of diplomatic and defense agreements, notably the 2020 U.S. recognition of its claim to Western Sahara. Algeria, while also a U.S. security partner, maintains a more reserved diplomatic posture and has historically focused its international advocacy through multilateral forums.
Experts note that lobbying expenditures are a standard, transparent tool of international diplomacy in Washington. The scale of Morocco's investment underscores its concerted effort to shape U.S. policy and maintain congressional support for its strategic objectives, creating a pronounced asymmetry in its influence campaign compared to its regional rival.
