Australia maintains close ties with the Indonesian military.
Armenia, a former Soviet republic, maintains close ties with Russia.
Mrs. Weiss's family maintains close ties to Middle Eastern leaders.
Sudan maintains close economic and diplomatic ties to Iran and China.
The Faruk Group, a sprawling holding company centered in Suleimaniya, maintains close ties to the Talabani family.
It has a presence at amateur wrestling events and maintains close contact with college wrestling coaches.
For its part, Beijing maintains close ties with Pakistan, India's historical foe.
Tony Abbott maintains close links with the last Liberal to hold the prime ministership, John Howard.
Planned Parenthood maintains close ties with other women's organizations through which it can spread its message.
The group maintains close ties to the Taliban, but often works independently.
The heroin kingpin Imam Bheel, for example, allegedly maintains close ties with senior Pakistani politicians.
