A significant coastal development project in Albania, associated with Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, has sparked protests. Police in Tirana, Albania’s capital, used water cannons and clashed with demonstrators on Wednesday. The government claims the Adriatic coast project will transform the nation as it seeks to tap into high-end tourism and secure European Union membership.
The project, located on an abandoned island and nearby seafront in southern Albania, has faced opposition. Environmentalists and critics of longtime Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama oppose the venture. Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump discovered the site incidentally on a barefoot hike. The luxury development includes a coastal area in the Narta Lagoon wildlife reserve and a resort on the uninhabited island of Sazan, a former military base.
The plan features hotels, apartments, villas, and a marina tied to Kushner and Trump’s daughter, Ivanka. Protests erupted during which police blocked streets, showing public concern about the environmental impact and transparency.
We were on a friend’s boat, and we stopped for a swim. Effectively, that’s how we found it. We swam to the island. We went on a hike, barefoot all the way up to the top, and we were just captivated.
In recent weeks, excavators and heavy equipment have entered the area, creating access roads and clearing land. Environmental groups have condemned the destruction of protected habitats. Protesters, aiming to protect a biodiversity hotspot, carried pink flamingo cut-outs to symbolize their concerns.
Amidst the unrest, Albania’s anti-corruption agency began investigating the project but provided no details. Disputes over land privatization have surfaced, adding complexity to the situation. Prime Minister Rama remains committed to the project, highlighting the potential 4 billion euros investment aimed at boosting tourism.
The controversy surrounding this project mirrors similar challenges faced in Serbia, where a project linked to Kushner faced legal hurdles and was eventually abandoned. Demonstrations continue as activists push back against what they see as threats to Albania’s natural and cultural heritage.