Luxury resort for Jared Kushner, strategic foothold for America: Albania shows why the Balkans are suddenly vital for the US

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are planning a large luxury resort on Sazan Island, an Albanian island they discovered during a boat trip. Trump described the island's white sandy beaches in a podcast, referring to it as a "private island" that she and Kushner intend to develop.

However, Sazan Island is state property, and the project has ignited significant opposition. Tens of thousands of Albanians have taken to the streets in protest over the past three weeks, denouncing the deal as "The Flamingo Revolution." Protesters are concerned about the environmental impact on the habitats of birds, fish, and monk seals, as well as suspecting a lack of transparency in the government's dealings with the Trump family.

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We swam over, hiked to the very top, and were simply blown away.

Beyond the resort plans, Sazan Island holds significant geostrategic importance. Its location in the Strait of Otranto, just 75 kilometers from Italy, has made it a historically contested site, controlling access to both the Ionian and Adriatic Seas. This strategic value is part of a larger geopolitical shift occurring in the Balkans.

The United States is actively building a new power structure in the region, aimed at countering Russian and Chinese influence. This strategy includes major energy infrastructure investments, such as gas pipelines and power plants, designed to lessen the dependence of Southern and Eastern European countries on Russian gas. This initiative, discussed at a recent "Gas Summit" in Washington, signals a broader U.S. push for energy dominance in the region, potentially impacting European interests.

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Albania is not for sale.