• Massive coastal development project linked to Jared Kushner faces protests.
• Project spans an abandoned island and seafront in Albania's southern coast.
• Environmental groups denounce irreparable harm to biodiversity areas.
• Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama defends the project's economic potential.
• Investigations opened into possible corruption related to land claims.

A massive coastal development project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, is facing growing resistance from protesters in Albania. The Albanian government claims the development on the Adriatic coast will be transformational for the country as it aims for high-end tourism and European Union membership, but opposition is rising due to environmental concerns and criticism of long-time Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama, according to latimes, scmp, and npr.

The project consists of a coastal development in the Narta Lagoon area, designated as a wildlife reserve, and a resort on the nearby uninhabited island of Sazan, which was a military base during the communist era. Ivanka Trump, during a podcast, mentioned that they found the site after swimming there, saying, “We swam to the island. We went on a hike, barefoot all the way up to the top, and we were just captivated,” according to latimes, scmp, and npr.

As of late May, protests have increased following incidents in which private security allegedly assaulted demonstrators. Activists fear that valuable coastal areas could be compromised by powerful investors, especially as the development is located within a nature reserve that is critical for migratory birds along the Adriatic coast. Protesters have utilized symbols like pink flamingos to draw attention to the environmental impact, according to latimes and scmp.

Environmental groups, both local and from across Europe, have condemned the project, alleging that it will cause “irreversibly destroyed” habitats. In response to public outcry, Albania's state anti-corruption agency has opened an investigation into potential misuse of power and the legitimacy of land privatization connected to the project, as highlighted by latimes, scmp, and npr.

Despite the protests, Prime Minister Rama has defended the investment, emphasizing its significance for Albania’s ambition to become a global tourism destination. “Albania should not be a country that fears an extraordinary project like this one, where exceptional partners have come together to invest 4 billion euros ($4.6 billion),” he stated, stressing that the investment would not be halted during his tenure, according to latimes, scmp, and npr.

However, the situation has drawn parallels to a failed development project in Serbia associated with Kushner, where legal issues and allegations of corruption have emerged, leading to his withdrawal from the project. Such parallels raise questions about the viability and integrity of the ongoing developments in Albania, according to latimes, scmp, and npr.