Julian Pecquet

Julian Pecquet was the Editor of Special Projects for Al-Monitor, where he supervised the award-winning Lobbying Tracker as well as managing long-form stories. Before that, he covered the US Congress for Al-Monitor. Prior to joining Al-Monitor, Pecquet led global affairs coverage for the political newspaper The Hill.

Turkey | Mar 24, 2020

Trans-Atlantic official slams US for forcing Turkish broadcaster to register as foreign agent

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's media freedom representative said TRT's registration under a Nazi-era anti-propaganda law had a “restrictive & negative impact on media freedom.”

French State Secretary for European Affairs Harlem Desir arrives for a meeting in Rome, Italy, December 13, 2015. The U.S. and Italy on Sunday led the international diplomatic push to get Libya's warring factions to sign a deal to form a unity government, hoping it will stop the spread of Islamic State militancy in the North African country. REUTERS/Remo Casilli - GF10000264368

Originals | Mar 13, 2020

Mercury hires British lobbyists as Israeli spyware firm faces global backlash

Mercury Public Affairs is tapping former British officials to help lobby for Q Cyber Technologies and its better known subsidiary the NSO Group as the Israeli spyware company faces a global backlash.

A man reads at a stand of the NSO Group Technologies, an Israeli technology firm known for its Pegasus spyware enabling the remote surveillance of smartphones, at the annual European Police Congress in Berlin, Germany, February 4, 2020. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke - RC2MTE9GIMJ9

Gulf | Jan 30, 2020

Magnitsky law spawns cottage industry of sanctions lobbying

The Magnitsky Act is being used in unexpected ways, with lobbyists pushing for human rights sanctions against nations on behalf of corporate clients.

U.S. President Barack Obama (seated) signs H.R. 6156, the Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, December 14, 2012. From L-R are: U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, Obama, U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, U.S. Rep. Sandy Levin, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, and U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS) - GM1E8CF053K01

United Arab Emirates | Jan 27, 2020

Ex-Foreign Affairs chairwoman Ros-Lehtinen embraces UAE lobby

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is the only ex-lawmaker currently registered as a foreign agent for the United Arab Emirates.

UNITED STATES - MAY 4: Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., speaks with a school group on the House steps at the Capitol after a series of votes on repeal and replace of Obamacare on Thursday, May 4, 2017. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Saudi Arabia | Jan 22, 2020

UN fingers Israeli spyware firm in Bezos hack

UN investigators say Saudi use of NSO Group software was the “most likely explanation” for the hacking attack against the Amazon CEO.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos shows off his company's new smartphone, the Fire Phone, at a news conference in Seattle, Washington June 18, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Redmond (UNITED STATES - Tags: SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - GM1EA6J06CN02

U.S. | Jan 9, 2020

Dueling Middle East lobbyists rush to praise Trump for Soleimani killing

Foreign agents seeking to sway the president on behalf of both warring factions in Libya are among the cheer squad.

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a statement about Iran flanked by U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Vice President Mike Pence and military leaders in the Grand Foyer at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 8, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC2SBE92V1RE

U.S. | Jan 6, 2020

Iran opposition lobbied Giuliani, CEO of United Against Nuclear Iran

New lobbying disclosures raise new questions about the ties between the hawkish organization United Against Nuclear Iran to the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq.

Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City, speaks at an event in Ashraf-3 camp, which is a base for the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) in Manza, Albania, July 13, 2019.REUTERS/Florion Goga - RC1B40AAA200

Algeria | Dec 23, 2019

Intel: How the death of its army chief opens new era in Algeria’s politics

Algeria’s longtime army chief died of a heart attack Dec. 23, further upending a sclerotic political system already reeling from the departure of its longtime strongman president in April.

Algerian army's Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaid Salah attends newly elected Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's swearing-in ceremony in Algiers, Algeria December 19, 2019. REUTERS/Ramzi Boudina - RC2DYD9KN4W8

United Arab Emirates | Dec 20, 2019

UAE insists it’s not lobbying for sanctions against Turkey after all

Lobbyists for the UAE embassy in Washington have clarified their talking points to Congress.

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - OCTOBER 17: Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (L) meets Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) in Istanbul, Turkey on October 17, 2016. (Photo by Turkish Presidency / Yasin Bulbul/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Egypt | Dec 10, 2019

Intel: How this week’s US-sponsored Nile talks buoy Egypt

The US administration deepened its involvement in trilateral talks between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over the filling of a massive new dam on the Nile River this week, to Cairo’s relief.