Jared Kushner nears major Balkan deals with potential Saudi funding
Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law and former advisor, is reportedly close to finalizing deals for major construction projects in Serbia and Albania, with potential funding from Saudi Arabia, according to "The New York Times."
6:49 AM EDT, March 17, 2024
Kushner's ventures in the Balkans include transforming an Albanian island into a luxurious tourist resort and constructing a high-end hotel in Serbia. The projects have garnered attention, not only for their scope but also for Kushner's collaboration with Richard Grenell, the former US special envoy to the Balkans during Trump's presidency.
The report by "The New York Times" suggests that these business endeavors are leveraging relationships established by Donald Trump during his time in office.
It appears Kushner's business ventures have been facilitated by connections made during Trump's presidency, "NYT" reports.
Kushner's investment firm, with access to $2 billion from the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund and other foreign investors, has not yet decided whether the Saudi funds will be invested in the Balkans.
Jared Kushner's Interests in the Balkans
Since Trump’s departure from office in 2021, Kushner has visited Albania twice, meeting with Prime Minister Edi Rama and accompanied by Richard Grenell, according to "NYT."
They explored the potential of Sazan Island, previously a secret submarine base under Albania's former communist government, the newspaper reported.
The next project involves building a 1,500-room hotel and a museum in Belgrade, on the site of the former Yugoslav army headquarters—a prominent symbol of the NATO bombings in 1999, now recognized as a cultural landmark.
Will the Saudis Finance Kushner's Investments?
The projects, requiring agreements with the Albanian and Serbian governments, would be managed by Kushner's investment firm. Despite having $2 billion from the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund and other foreign backers, it's still undecided if these funds will support the Balkan ventures.
The "NYT" article highlighted Grenell’s role in facilitating dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo during Trump's administration, which helped him build connections with Albanian authorities. There's speculation about Grenell aspiring to be Secretary of State if the Republicans win the upcoming presidential election.
Criticism of Kushner's Investments
"At this election cycle stage, Jared Kushner should hold off on new investments," remarked Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen, expressing concerns over potential corruption trends associated with the Trump administration and family.
Kushner, however, has stated that he would not return to Washington should his father-in-law win the upcoming elections.
