Recent protests in Albania have intensified in response to the announcement that Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump are planning to transform the country’s largest island, Sazan Island, into an expansive luxury tourism destination covering 250 hectares. This development is perceived as controversial, with many concerned about the implications for the nation’s economy and environment.
Sazan Island, along with the adjacent Narta-Zvernec wetland and lagoon ecosystem, holds strategic significance, located at the juncture of the Strait of Otranto and the Bay of Vlorë, marking the divide between the Adriatic and Ionian seas, which flow into the Mediterranean.
The controversial project has sparked outrage among Albanians, raising issues of corruption, environmental degradation, and the country’s treatment within the European Union. On June 1, Albania’s Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime confirmed that an investigation was underway regarding the project, which reportedly has ties to Qatari billionaire brothers, a businessman linked to the Italian mafia, a corrupt judge, and one of Albania’s leading oligarchs.
Is Another Epstein Island in the Making?
To understand the context of this development, one must consider the characters and their backgrounds. Prime Minister Rama has expressed commitment to the project, framing it as part of Albania’s ambition to emerge as a premier global luxury tourism destination. Indeed, tourism in Albania has seen significant growth lately. However, the country continues to grapple with being a global hub for human trafficking, with women and children sadly exploited for sex. The influx of tourists has transformed Albania from a transit point for trafficking into a destination for such activities, largely orchestrated by powerful organized crime syndicates that emerged following the collapse of Yugoslavia during the Balkan Wars.
Coincidentally, Kushner and his associates are also involved in plans to renovate the former Serbian Ministry of Defense building in Belgrade, which has remained vacant since its bombing by NATO in 1999. Although the Strategic Investment Committee of Albania granted Kushner the authority to expedite negotiations regarding Sazan back in January 2025, it has come to light that Albanian mafia figures may have played a pivotal role in the dealings:
Reports suggest that the land designated for Kushner & Ivanka Trump’s luxury resort was seized from local owners by Albanian organized crime groups operating in the U.S., with knowledge from PM Rama and foreign authorities. 🇦🇱🇺🇸🦩 https://t.co/kW2GqZtXW8 pic.twitter.com/9IoZXiIre0
— Tirana Report (@Tirana_Report) June 7, 2026
It’s worth noting that Jared and Ivanka reportedly “discovered” Sazan while aboard Nat Rothschild’s luxury yacht. Kushner claims that former Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell encouraged him to invest in Albania. This connection led to a meeting between Kushner and Prime Minister Edi Rama on Rothschild’s yacht, which Jared credits as the catalyst for the $4 billion luxury project.
While Rothschild seems instrumental to this venture, he has also been linked to the Epstein scandal, with reports detailing Epstein’s characterization of Rothschild ally Peter Mandelson.
Jeffrey Epstein labeled Peter Mandelson as “devious” while attempting to lobby for a mining project led by their mutual acquaintance, Nat Rothschild.
The connections between this enterprise and previous scandals lead many to speculate that the resort could potentially become an alternative to the notorious Epstein Island:
Rothschild Helped Kushner Find The Island — Epstein Island 2.0 Began Taking Shape. Jared Kushner: “We Were on a Friend’s Boat — Nat Rothschild’s — on Vacation When I Found Sazan Island in Albania.”
🧵Thread on who Nat Rothschild is & Jared Kushner’s history with Epstein https://t.co/RfXulzbz7S pic.twitter.com/4TjM8X8Iw4
— Phantom Pain (@phantompain1984) June 2, 2026
Sazan Island is also notable for hosting approximately 3,600 Soviet-era nuclear bunkers constructed during the Cold War, aligning with contemporary trends where billionaires seek refuge in underground complexes. Moreover, the island harbors at least ten miles of subterranean tunnels that could serve various purposes.
Geopolitical Aspirations on the Adriatic
Kushner has made his ambitions clear regarding expanding Israel’s influence in the region:
Jared Kushner asserts he will offer wealth, power, and prestige only to nations that embrace the Abraham Accords, developing “economic packages” to encourage those reluctant to participate.
Kushner has notably set his sights on Morocco and other potential allies… pic.twitter.com/EsZw2i9PuO
While Albania has historically aligned closely with the U.S. and Israel, these ties have intensified in the context of the ongoing conflicts in Gaza. A recent article notes:
In the last two years, Albania and Israel have entered numerous agreements across various sectors, including agriculture, education, and defense, reflecting rapidly growing trade relations…
These close diplomatic relationships culminated in Prime Minister Edi Rama’s visit to Jerusalem earlier this year, coinciding with increased military cooperation.
Kushner’s Qatari Billionaires
Significantly, the Khayyat brothers play a crucial role in financing the Albanian resort. Moutaz, Ramez, and Mohamad al-Khayyat, who are billionaires with Syrian origins but Qatari citizenship, are expected to utilize part of their $12 billion Syrian reconstruction portfolio to support this project:
Three Syrian-born Qatari billionaires, long constrained by US sanctions, have now formed a partnership with Jared Kushner for a $4 billion resort in Albania after sanctions were lifted, allowing them access to their finances. The Albanian government has welcomed their investment.
Thus, Kushner’s Gulf-backed Affinity Partners appears to be orchestrating the venture with assistance from U.S. intelligence:
This isn’t merely a luxury resort. Sazan is strategically positioned between the Adriatic and the Mediterranean, featuring 3,600 nuclear bunkers and 15 kilometers of tunnels. Control over this island equates to control over the Adriatic…
Albania as a Sacrifice Zone for the EU
Beyond Kushner’s enterprise, the Albanian government is actively promoting various projects to attract foreign investments in luxury tourism:
🚨 KARABURUN OFFICIALLY SOLD. The Albanian government has granted ‘strategic investor’ status to an Italian hotelier aiming to develop a resort in a nature reserve in southern Albania.
The government’s focus on coastal resorts illustrates the broader exploitation of the country’s natural resources.
Like many nations in the Balkans, Albania is currently on the waiting list for EU membership, often treated as a “sacrifice zone.” This has manifested in several ways:
- Cheap Labor: The garment industry relies heavily on Albania’s low minimum wage, contributing to economic exploitation.
- Power Generation: The EU has invested heavily in gas infrastructure in the region, redirecting resources away from local needs.
- Resource Extraction: Plans are underway to build an undersea water pipeline to Italy, risking long-term water security for short-term gains.
- Asylum Seeking Policies: There is a troubling trend of rerouting asylum seekers to detention facilities in Albania, raising serious human rights concerns.
Clearly, the Albanian populace is expressing deep dissatisfaction with these developments and the direction taken by their government.
