The government of Albania has granted preliminary approval for a $1.4 billion luxury hotel complex proposed by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former President Donald J. Trump. The development is set to occur on a small abandoned military base off the Albanian coast.
This project is among several that involve Mr. Trump and his family, directly engaging with foreign government entities. Notably, this approval comes while Mr. Trump is involved in foreign policy concerning these nations.
The endorsement from Albania’s Strategic Investment Committee, led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, allows Mr. Kushner and his business associates to initiate accelerated negotiations to construct the resort on a 111-acre portion of the 2.2-square-mile island of Sazan, which will be accessible via ferry from the mainland.
Neither Mr. Kushner nor the Albanian government responded to requests for comment. However, both parties have previously asserted that the evaluation process is not influenced by Mr. Kushner’s connections to Mr. Trump or any potential attempts to seek favors from the U.S. government.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Rama expressed pride in Mr. Kushner's interest in investing in Albania during a statement made last year.
Mr. Kushner’s Affinity Partners, a private equity firm primarily financed by Saudi Arabian and other Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds, is collaborating on this project with Asher Abehsera, a real estate executive with whom Mr. Kushner has partnered in previous ventures.
According to an official document released by the Albanian government, plans are in place to clear the proposed hotel site of any potential buried munitions and to address environmental or legal concerns prior to project advancement.
The document, dated December 30, indicates that the Albanian government retains the right to revoke the decision based on the outcomes of final project negotiations.
The proposed development aims to transform the former military base into a five-star “eco-resort community,” creating a vibrant international destination for hospitality and wellness.
Ivanka Trump has also stated her involvement in the project, affirming the commitment to execute the plan during a podcast last year.
This initiative is one of two significant real estate projects Mr. Kushner is pursuing in collaboration with Mr. Abehsera that involve foreign governments. The partnership has also received preliminary approval for a luxury hotel complex in Belgrade, Serbia, located in a former ministry of defense building that has remained vacant since being bombed by NATO in 1999.
Both Serbia and Albania are engaged in foreign policy discussions with the United States, seeking support for their efforts to join the European Union, while U.S. officials encourage Serbia to strengthen ties with the U.S. as opposed to Russia.
Virginia Canter, a former White House ethics lawyer, commented that even without an intention to gain influence, any government deal involving Mr. Trump’s family can create a perception of favoritism, as it may appear that foreign governments seek favorable relations with the Trump family.