India hires Trump-linked lobbying firm amid worsening ties with Washington
Lobbying firm Mercury has a track record of lobbying on behalf of foreign clients who have come into Washington based issues
WASHINGTON, United States (MNTV) – India has hired Mercury Public Affairs, a high-profile lobbying firm with close ties to US President Donald Trump, as tensions between Washington and New Delhi deepen.
According to filings with the US Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), the Indian Embassy in Washington will pay the firm $75,000 per month for government relations, media outreach, digital strategy and advertising. The agreement, which runs from mid-August to mid-November 2025, was formally disclosed on August 18.
Mercury is known for representing foreign governments and entities facing pressure in Washington. The firm’s roster includes Bryan Lanza, Trump’s former transition communications director, who is among those handling the Indian account. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles previously served as a co-chair at Mercury.
The filings state that Mercury will provide “strategic government relations and communications services” for India, including federal lobbying, media engagement, and digital consulting.
The move comes as bilateral relations remain under strain. Trump has vowed to impose a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods, arguing that New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil finances Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Indian officials counter that the imports help stabilize global markets, noting that Washington had earlier signaled acceptance.
The United States is India’s largest trading partner, and officials in New Delhi fear the tariffs could severely damage exporters. Trump has also branded India a “dead economy” with “obnoxious trade barriers,” stalling efforts to finalize a long-discussed trade deal.
India’s lobbying push follows criticism at home that New Delhi has been outmaneuvered by Pakistan in its dealings with Washington. In June, Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir met with Trump in a high-profile engagement. Soon after, Trump imposed only a 19 percent tariff on Pakistani goods—far lower than India’s proposed rate—and announced a new partnership to jointly develop Pakistan’s “massive oil reserves.”
The outreach has raised concern in New Delhi that Washington may be tilting toward Islamabad at India’s expense.
In an effort to shore up relations, Trump recently nominated Sergio Gor, a longtime aide, as ambassador to India. The post has remained vacant since Trump’s return to the White House. Indian officials have nonetheless found it difficult to secure sustained engagement from key figures in the administration.
External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has insisted that strong ties with the US remain a priority, stressing that trade negotiations are ongoing despite recent setbacks.
Mercury’s track record
Mercury has a history of representing foreign clients targeted by Washington.
Earlier this year, it disclosed a contract with the Embassy of Denmark, which opposed Trump’s controversial push to acquire Greenland.
Indian tycoon Gautam Adani, a close ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Asia’s second-richest man, has also expanded his lobbying network in Washington since Trump’s return to power, even as he faces scrutiny over alleged bribery schemes.
With steep tariffs looming and Pakistan gaining traction in Washington, India’s latest deal with Mercury signals a determined attempt to prevent its strategic ties with the US from unraveling.
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