Lobbying 2014: Self-Reliant Algeria Warily Courts US Fiercely independent Algeria is warily eyeing closer ties with the United States as it seeks to counter the growing threat of Islamist militants spreading across the vast Sahara. Algeria
Lobbying 2014: Egypt fights to preserve billion-dollar ties with US Cash-strapped Cairo is shelling out millions of dollars to preserve a US-Egypt relationship worth $1.5 billion in annual aid and priceless standing on the world stage. Egypt
Lobbying 2014: UAE Spends Big to Avoid Another Ports World Debacle The United Arab Emirates is spending millions of dollars a year to convince the American public — and Congress — that it's safe to do business with. United Arab Emirates
Lobbying 2014: Qatar Seeks to Shed Rogue Reputation The gas-rich and independent-minded micro-state of Qatar is trying hard to shed its image as a regional troublemaker. Qatar
Lobbying 2014: Bahrain Seeks to Close The Books on Bloody Crackdown The Kingdom of Bahrain is executing a tried-and-true Washington PR blitz as it seeks to convince the US that it doesn’t need to start looking for a new home for its Fifth Fleet. Bahrain
Lobbying 2014: Saudis Count on US Network to Get Obama on War Footing Saudi Arabia is counting on its extensive contacts in US military circles and its $2 million-a-year PR operation to weather the worst crisis in relations with Washington since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Saudi Arabia
Lobbying 2014: Jordan counts on US for support in rough neighborhood Resource-poor and challenge-rich Jordan is turning to the United States for extra support as its warring neighbors threaten the country’s very existence. Jordan
Lobbying 2014: Israel fields army of grass-roots supporters In the battle for influence in the Middle East, Israel retains one unrivaled weapon in its arsenal: American voters. Israel
Lobbying 2014: Palestine seeks greater US 'balance' The Palestinian delegation to Washington is on a long-shot mission to get what it considers a fair shake from Congress. Palestine
Lobbying 2014: Lebanon navigates US-Hezbollah tensions Lebanon continues to play an outsize role in US foreign policy as Congress and the administration of President Barack Obama seek to ramp up the pressure on government member Hezbollah without undermining the country’s stability. Lebanon
Lobbying 2014: Kurdistan Regional Government looks to strike out on its own The Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq (KRG) has hired some of the best lobbying and PR talent in Washington to convince the United States to start treating it like a sovereign country. Iraqi-Kurdistan
Lobbying 2014: Podesta plays matchmaker for estranged US, Iraq The United States and Iraq find themselves in intensive couples counseling as they try to save a failing marriage of convenience that could hold the key to defeating the biggest terrorist threat since al-Qaeda. Iraq
Lobbying 2014: Turkey seeks 'zero problems' with Obama Turkey is lobbying heavily to try to rekindle a once-promising relationship with the administration of President Barack Obama that has markedly deteriorated over the past year. Turkey
Khamenei foreign policy adviser says Iran sticking to its guns Ali Akbar Velayati says that the nuclear deal will not change Iran's regional policy or limit the country's missile program. Iran
Lobbying 2014: Libya Seeks to Lay The Ghost of Benghazi to Rest Libya's teetering government is urging the United States to give the country a chance even as it sinks into chaos. Libya
Turkey's Constitutional Court stands up to Erdogan The Turkish Constitutional Court has shown its independence in issuing recent decisions despite the condemnations of the AKP and its propaganda machine. Turkey
