EditFrom Belgrade hopes to cold shoulder: Albanian influence prevails in Trump’s Balkans pivot
The Albanian lobby appears to have gained significant influence in Washington under President Donald Trump's second term
The recent developments in U.S. foreign policy toward the Balkans have delivered a stark setback to Serbian expectations, as the Albanian lobby appears to have gained significant influence in Washington under President Donald Trump’s second term.
Not long ago, Serbia viewed Trump with considerable optimism. During his first administration, his approach to the region seemed to favor Belgrade in the longstanding Serbia-Kosovo dispute. Reports suggested Trump had floated ideas for redrawing borders, including potentially attaching the Serb-majority northern part of Kosovo to Serbia, amid broader speculation about partitioning Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbian officials and observers hoped this pattern would continue, especially with the prospect of Richard Grenell – Trump’s former special envoy for Serbia-Kosovo relations, who had been openly critical of Pristina’s negotiating stance, potentially taking a high-profile role, such as Secretary of State.
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Belgrade also welcomed business overtures from Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, granting him access for real estate ventures in Serbia (and similarly in neighboring Albania). Yet these hopes have largely unraveled.
In late 2025, Kushner abandoned his real estate ambitions in Serbia. More strikingly, on 22 January, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump formally established his “Board of Peace” – an initiative originally proposed to address post-conflict stabilization in Gaza but expanded to global conflicts. Trump personally oversaw the signing of its charter, positioning it as a rival mechanism to the United Nations for promoting peace. Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani attended and signed on behalf of her country, describing it as an honor to stand with the United States. Albania, under Prime Minister Edi Rama, also accepted the invitation enthusiastically, with Rama committing to parliamentary approval and framing it as a privilege to contribute to global stability.
Serbia, however, received no invitation to join the Board of Peace. This omission has been interpreted in Belgrade as a clear snub, especially given the inclusion of Kosovo and Albania – both staunch U.S. allies.
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Analysts in Serbia, including Nikola Perišić from the Center for Social Research, have described the high expectations for Trump’s return as now dashed. Perišić noted that while Grenell had previously pressed the Albanian side harder on normalisation, recent signals from the administration point in the opposite direction. He argued that the Board’s composition indicates Serbia can no longer rely on American backing on the Kosovo question and that the Albanian lobby in the United States has successfully swayed Trump, even though Pristina’s current leadership had aligned more closely with the prior Biden administration.
This shift places Serbia in a precarious geopolitical spot. With relations between the European Union and the United States strained under Trump’s renewed antagonism toward Brussels – including his National Strategy and public statements, Belgrade faces uncertainty over which powers will dominate influence in the Balkans. Perišić suggested that Serbia must cultivate balanced relations with all major global actors to safeguard its interests.
Experts offer mixed views on whether Serbia’s exclusion is ultimately advantageous. Miloš Pavković from the Center for European Policies observed that many countries, including small ones that might benefit from the publicity, have shown little enthusiasm for the Board. He pointed out the European Commission’s invitation despite Trump’s adversarial stance toward the EU. For Serbia, Pavković argued, staying on the sidelines avoids complicating already tense ties with Russia and the U.S., particularly amid issues like the NIS energy company, and aligns with President Aleksandar Vučić’s approach of lying low until geopolitical storms pass. Branka Latinović, former Serbian ambassador to the United Nations and vice-president of the Forum for International Relations, cautioned that deliberately avoiding attention might be prudent to prevent irritating the current dominant force in international relations, though she added that if an invitation arrives, Serbia could coordinate its response with EU partners.
Trump has repeatedly touted his peacemaking credentials, claiming in a recent press conference marking his one-year anniversary as the 47th president that he has stopped eight wars, including the “conflict between Kosovo and Serbia,” which he ranked second on his list. He asserted that he averted escalation by warning both sides that pursuing conflict would bar them from U.S. trade, and he reiterated his belief that these efforts merit the Nobel Peace Prize. Kosovo’s President Osmani reinforced this narrative after a U.S. visit, stating that in late May 2025 she received intelligence about Serbian border actions potentially leading to escalation, which she shared with allies to prevent it.
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Meanwhile, the Trump family’s business ties to Albania continue to draw attention. Ivanka Trump visited Vlora in late January for discussions related to the planned luxury development on Sazan Island by her husband, Jared Kushner. The couple’s project, granted Strategic Investor Status by the Albanian government, envisions a high-end resort on the uninhabited island, though it has faced opposition from 41 environmental organizations across 28 countries. They have urged suspension of the project, citing risks to biodiversity, including habitats for the endangered Mediterranean monk seal and other threatened marine species in the surrounding waters.
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Adding to Serbia’s concerns, a bill introduced in the U.S. Congress on 22 January the Presheva Valley Discrimination Assessment Act, sponsored by Representative Keith Self – requires the State Department to evaluate alleged discrimination against ethnic Albanians in southern Serbia’s Presevo Valley (Medvedja, Bujanovac, and Presevo municipalities). The legislation addresses claims of “address passivization” that prevents residents from renewing IDs or exercising rights like voting, along with barriers in language use, education (including non-recognition of Kosovo diplomas and textbook shortages), economic neglect, and law enforcement intimidation. Lobbying group Albanians for America hailed it as a step toward accountability.
These combined events – from the Board’s selective invitations and Trump’s self-proclaimed successes to ongoing business and legislative moves, signal a perceptible tilt in U.S. policy toward Albanian interests, leaving Serbia to recalibrate its strategy in an unpredictable international landscape.
Sources: Siol.net, BETA, Balkan Insight, KosovaPress, Euronews Albania
Caption: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is on a state visit to Washington, September 4, 2020. (Presidency of Serbia)
Updated: January 27, 2026 - 15:50
