It is difficult to find a place more exclusive than Sazan. A small island at the entrance to the Gulf of Vlora on the Albanian coast of the Adriatic is a rapidly managed due to communism. Hyperparanoic autocrat Enver Hodża during the Cold War ordered to lead through this island with an area of only six km. Tunnels. Today, the remains of 3600 bunkers and underground cinema are destroying there, and the signs warn against land mines.
In addition, lush subtropical vegetation, cliffs and surrounding clean, blue waters of the Mediterranean dominate here. The island will no longer be so isolated: Jared Kushner, the son -in -law of the US President Donald Trump, wants to build a holiday Mecca for superbody. Ivanka Trump calls this worth $ 1.4 billion. [5 mld 160 mln zł] The “exceptional” project. Albanians are already talking about Ishulla and Trumpve, or Trump's island.
The family of the US president discovered the Balkans as a field to show off. Especially his son -in -law Kushner implements ambitious projects in Belgrade, Bucharest and on the coast of Albania. It is about investments worth billions in the region, which belongs to the most politically unstable in Europe. Romania is already a member of the EU, Serbia and Albania want to join the Union. If the members of the Trump's family combine economic interests with political influence, strengthening authoritarian governments and right -wing politicians, this poses a threat to democracy, the rule of law and European integration policy.
How far the ambitions of the circle focused around Trump reach, showed the visit of Donald Trump Jr. in Europe.
The oldest son of the president and head of Trump Organization, in which Trump brings together his interests, omitted Western Europe and went to Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Hungary to run business there and meet with right -wing populists, such as President Serbia Aleksandar Vucić or advisers of the Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Trump Jr. He also had a conversation with the pro -Russian Mayor of Chisinau, the capital of Moldova.
Unlike the first term, when Trump Organization did not officially want to conduct business abroad, nowadays less attention to avoiding appearances of conflict of interest. This also applies to Kushner: about 550 km northeast of Sazan, in the capital of Serbia, Belgrade, he plans to build a complex covering a luxury hotel, shopping center and apartments. It is to be built on the ruins of the former general accommodation of the Yugoslav army, bombed by NATO during the war in Kosovo in 1999. The plans are controversial because the partially damaged building complex is considered an unofficial monument to the victims of war. Thousands of people demonstrated against the project. Kushner announced that in order to calm the mood in the complex a museum will be created commemorating the victims of war, but this did not calm the emotions.
Albinfo / Wiki Commons
Abandoned bunkers on the island of Sazan/ Albania, July 2018.
Richard Grenell, former Trump ambassador to Germany and a special envoy for peace negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo, apparently mediated in these transactions. Grenell, who in 2023 was awarded by the President of Serbia Vucia with the Order of Serbia's flag, is willing to come to Belgrade and cultivate friendships with local politicians. In recent years, he represented Serbia's interests to the previous US administration under the direction of Joe Biden; The supposition that he received advisory fees for this, but they were never confirmed.
“Russians love the Trump brand”
Agreements regarding a project worth $ 500 million. [1 mld 843 mln zł] They were concluded in 2024. Trump Organization is also involved in this project, and the hotel is to be named after the US President. For Trump, who wanted to build a luxury hotel in this area, it would be a late triumph. Just a few weeks ago, Trump Organization announced another project in the Balkans: in the capital of Romania, Bucharest, Trump Tower is to be created in cooperation with the local SDC Imobiliare developer.
Trump and Eastern Europe are a long -term relationship: since the fall of the Iron Curtain, the current US president has maintained business contacts with Russia and a former area of influence of the Soviet Union. Trump's American projects were invested a lot of money from rich Russians, who helped him after the crisis on the real estate market at the beginning of the 21st century. One -third of premises on the most expensive floors of Trump World Tower in New York was reportedly purchased for money from this region. Before its first term, secret plans to build Trump Tower in Moscow were created, which were only published later. “The Russians love the Trump brand” – the former business partner was delighted at the time.
This also applies to today's state leaders, such as the Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama. In his surroundings, there are allegations of corruption, and the criticism of his authoritarian rule is growing. Trump's investments are also to help increase its popularity. – It is not about development, but about symbolic policy and influence – says Zef Precas, the head of the Albanian Think Tank Acer. – The government wants to improve its relations with Trump, and at the same time show its voters that it is important in the geopolitical arena.
For this purpose, he is ready to ignore ecologists' fears. In a short time, the provisions on protected areas were changed to enable the implementation of tourist projects such as this Kushner on the island of Sazan. This also applies to the construction of the airport in Wlora, where the first charter flights are to land this summer. This resort is considered a gate to the beaches of southern Albania – and it would also be for the island of Sazan. Domestic and international environmentalists protested against the construction of the airport in the Delta of the Last Wild River of Europe, WJOSY. As a result of protests, the subsidiary of Flughafen Munchen GmbH finally withdrew from the controversial project.
For Niko Dumani from the ecological organization Ecoalbania The construction of the airport is an example of how the Albania government disregards applicable regulations, administrative regulations and international conventions to pursue its own interests. This is repeated in the case of transactions with Kushner. “The Prime Minister privatized the island of Sazan to sell it to the son -in -law of Trump,” says Dumani. – Sales only brings him personal and political benefits and better relations with Donald Trump, but there is no real benefit for the Albanian nation.
Bridges to the Middle East
It is also about building bridges to the Middle East: Kushner's capital apparently comes mainly from the Saudi State Fund and from investors from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. “Not a single dollar comes from Trump,” says, for example, a political observer. – Money comes from the Arab region and is not investments from the USA, even if politicians would like to present it differently. According to an investigation carried out by the US Senate, Kushner Affinity Partners raised about $ 3 billion by last fall. [ponad 11 mld zł] From Arab and other investors, including from an unknown donor, but has not yet made any major investments.
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This is no coincidence
The fact that investments are easier in authoritarian -ruled countries, where the rule of law, freedom of the press and transparent public procurement procedures are poorly developed, probably works in favor of the Trump family. – The governments of these countries have much more freedom in making decisions regarding investment and the conditions of their implementation – without significant control mechanisms or restrictions – says Majda Ruge of the European Council on Foreign Relations. During dinner behind closed doors in Bucharest Trump Jr. He complained about excessive regulations in Western Europe.
The EU should carefully observe whether these transactions may translate into a political position in the future. – Diplomats assume that in autumn Trump's administration will want to act more actively in the region – says Adnan Cerimagić from Think Tank European Stability Initiative. – The fact that people from Trump's surroundings maintain economic relations with governments such as Serbian who want to re -set boundaries in the region and finally resolve Bosnia and Herzegovina as a state, is disturbing – says Cerimagić. – If political commitment goes in the wrong direction, it can destabilize the region and become a challenge for Europe.
Fears that Kushner and the company not only derive profits from corruption, but that their billions even consolidate these structures, seem to confirm in Belgrade: the key expertise necessary to obtain a building permit has been apparently falsified. The responsible official was arrested and the project was suspended; The allegations are too serious. It is also typical for projects signed with the name of the US president: many of them fail. Trump's planned skyscrapers in the Georgian resort of Batumi and Moscow were never built, as did the projects in Azerbaijan and Beijing.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
