Italian media, citing The Guardian, report that Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, daughter and son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, have purchased Sazan Island in Albania for over one billion dollars.
This island, known for its natural beauty and military history, has attracted the couple’s attention, who plan to transform it into a luxury resort.
Sazan Island, a former military base, is part of the Karaburun-Sazan Marine National Park and has been open to visitors since 2015, although part of it remains a restricted military zone. During the communist regime, the island was used for military training and operations and still contains remnants of bunkers and tunnels, reports euronews.al.
Negotiations for the purchase took place without the knowledge of local residents and Albanian parliamentarians until the €1.4 billion deal was made public. According to reports, the main challenge for the project is the clearance of unexploded mines and military debris scattered around the island.
In addition to Sazan, the Affinity Group, which managed the negotiations, has plans for another project in Serbia, expressing interest in converting the former Ministry of Defense headquarters in Belgrade into a luxury hotel.
Ideas to transform the island into a luxury resort have sparked concerns among environmental and scientific groups worried about the potential impact on the area’s natural and cultural heritage. Albanians have even started calling it “Trump Island,” a name reflecting the Trump family’s influence on this major development.
In a podcast, President Trump expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, calling it “extraordinary,” while emphasizing that the greatest challenge remains clearing the area and ensuring safety for future visitors.
