A recent publication in a well-known French magazine has brought Albania’s mysterious Sazan Island into international focus, transforming what was once a secret Adriatic outpost into a topic of global curiosity. The article, widely circulated in France, describes Sazan as one of the last untouched islands of Europe, a wild paradise where nature, history, and geopolitics collide. For Albanians, the renewed attention on Sazan has created a sense of pride but also raised questions about the future of one of the country’s most unique landscapes.
According to the French report, Sazan Island resembles a fragment of ancient rock placed gently on the surface of the Adriatic Sea. It is home to wild lavender, rare bird species, snakes, and even stories of bears living among the dense pine forests that are hundreds of years old. The magazine paints Sazan as a kingdom of nature, a place where the sounds of birds dominate the silence, and where the sea is so clear that it seems untouched by civilization. During the summer, small Zodiac boats transport tourists from the nearby coastal city of Vlora, giving them a chance to swim on its long beach before heading to the famous Haxhi Ali Cave, once used by a 17th-century pirate to hide chests of gold. The cave, described as a natural cathedral, is now a sanctuary for sea turtles.
The French magazine emphasizes the island’s mysterious past. For sixty years, Sazan was a forbidden military zone, a strategic base during the communist era under Enver Hoxha. The publication describes Hoxha as exceptionally paranoid, fearful of invasions not only from Italy and Yugoslavia, but even from his own former allies. As a result, Sazan was fortified with bunkers, tunnels, and weapon sites, many of which still remain abandoned. When the communist regime collapsed in the early 1990s, Sazan became a no-man’s land, the last uninhabited island of the Adriatic, preserved in a strange state between nature and forgotten history.
However, the French article gained even more international attention because of a surprising detail: the island’s recent connection to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. The magazine reveals that four years ago, while vacationing in Greece with their children, the couple developed a sudden fascination with Sazan. Albanian authorities quickly organized a private multi-day visit for them, arranged by Auron Tare, a former archaeologist and director of Albania’s National Coastal Agency at the time. The French report notes that a helicopter and a luxury yacht were placed at their disposal, giving them full access to explore Sazan and the surrounding coastline.
According to the publication, Auron Tare guided the group through the region’s most beautiful and exclusive areas, including the villa of George Tenet, the Albanian-American former CIA director. A special lunch was arranged with Prime Minister Edi Rama, who welcomed the guests personally. The article highlights Rama’s warm Mediterranean personality and his familiarity with Donald Trump from international meetings.
The French magazine explains that the Trump–Kushner interest was not simply touristic. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner began discussing possible investments directly on the island. They hired architects and lawyers to study the potential development of Sazan and other coastal zones. The following year, Jared Kushner returned to Albania with partners from the Middle East, prepared to invest over one billion dollars not only in Sazan but also in a vast, unused coastal area north of Vlora. Last December, shortly after Donald Trump’s re-election, Kushner signed a preliminary 99-year lease agreement for a major land development project.
The French article presents this story as both glamorous and deeply strategic. Ivanka’s fascination with Sazan may appear romantic, but the magazine stresses that Jared Kushner is far from a naïve investor. His investment group, based in Miami, manages billions of dollars globally, particularly through partnerships in the Middle East. The publication describes Albania as an emerging tourism market, with its visitor numbers tripling within a decade, making it fertile ground for major investors seeking untouched Mediterranean locations.
For Albanians, the French magazine’s coverage is significant. It highlights Sazan not only as a natural treasure but also as a symbol of Albania’s transition from isolation to international visibility. The story of the island, once inaccessible and feared, now stands at the center of global economic and political interest. Whether these investments will preserve Sazan’s unique character or transform it into a luxury destination remains uncertain. What is clear is that the island’s future will no longer unfold quietly in the shadows. Thanks to the French magazine’s detailed report, Sazan Island has stepped into the global spotlight, carrying with it the hopes of a country eager to show the world its hidden gems.