What will be on the new American ambassador's desk? From the SHISH scandal to protests and crime

The new United States Ambassador to Albania, Eric Wendt, has officially begun his duties in Tirana.

A retired lieutenant general of the US Special Forces, with a long career in NATO and security structures, Wendt arrives in Albania at a time when some of the strongest political and institutional debates have opened in the country.

In the first official meeting with President Bajram Begaj, Wendt presented his credentials, while the American Embassy announced that the focus of the discussions was the partnership between the two countries, cooperation in the field of defense, economic growth, and the fight against transnational criminal groups.

These are some of the areas where his mandate is expected to focus, but the reality that the new ambassador finds in Tirana is much broader. On the table are issues of national security, justice, corruption, political protests and relations with the American administration.

The crisis surrounding SHISH and the Vlora Hyseni case
One of the most sensitive files that Wendt finds in Tirana is the one related to the former director of the State Intelligence Service, Vlora Hyseni.

Hyseni is under investigation by SPAK and has been placed under "house arrest," while the case has sparked a strong public debate about the functioning of security institutions and the protection of classified information.

For an ambassador coming to Tirana after more than three decades in American security structures and Special Forces, developments around SHISH are an issue that directly affects one of the areas of cooperation between the two countries.

Wendt has a long history in this sector, having commanded NATO special operations forces and worked with Albanian special operations units during his career. For this reason, his profile makes security and military cooperation one of the most important areas of the new mandate.

Anti-government protests
On another level, the American ambassador begins his duties in a country where anti-government protests have become part of everyday politics.

Opposition and citizen rallies have been ongoing for months, with the main demand being the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Protests have taken place in front of Parliament and the Prime Minister's Office, while clashes with police have increased tensions in some of them.

So this is another part of the panorama that the new American ambassador finds in the capital, although the US has been one of the main international actors that has followed political and institutional developments in Albania, so the way this climate will evolve remains one of the issues that will accompany Wendt's mandate.

The "Flamingo Revolution" and the project in Narta
Another issue that connects Albanian politics with the US is the debate over the development project in the Zvërnec and Narta area, linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump.

What began as a protest against the project and environmental concerns has turned into a theme of anti-government protests. Opponents of the project have raised ongoing concerns about the impact on the protected area and the decision-making process, while the government has supported the project as an important tourism investment.

But the issue takes on another dimension due to its connection to the Trump family, at a time when Donald Trump is in the White House and the new American ambassador has been appointed by his administration.

This does not mean that the project is an issue for the US administration, but it is one of the issues that will be part of the political climate in which Wendt takes office.

SPAK and the fight against corruption
Another important file is that of Albanian justice and especially the role of SPAK.

The Special Anti-Corruption Structure has become one of the most important institutions in Albanian political life, due to investigations against high-level officials and former officials.

Wendt himself, during the confirmation process in the US Senate, spoke about the importance of the fight against corruption and organized crime and the cooperation of Albanian institutions with US law enforcement agencies.

Balluku, immunity and the villa in Palasa
Another file that will be difficult not to be part of the new political panorama is that of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku.

SPAK has expanded the investigation into Balluk and in September made public new data related to a villa in the “Green Coast” complex in Palasa. According to SPAK, the property turns out to be in Balluk’s de facto ownership, while it is registered in the name of former footballer Igli Tare. The prosecution also suspects that the investments in the villa are linked to a company that had won a public tender, so the GJKKO decided to seize the property.

Balluk's case does not stop at the property because at the center is also the battle for her immunity and SPAK's request to the Parliament. According to recent reports, SPAK is expected to address the Parliament again to lift her immunity, while the investigation has expanded to several procurement procedures and other allegations related to corruption and money laundering.  

Transnational crime and security
In the first statement after the Wendt-Begaj meeting, the US Embassy directly mentioned the fight against transnational criminal groups.

The message comes at a time when Albania continues to face issues related to drug trafficking, money laundering, and the activity of criminal groups that extend beyond its borders.

For Wendt, this is not an unfamiliar field, as much of his career has been built on special operations, security, and international cooperation. 

Thus, Eric Wendt begins his assignment in an Albania where some of the most important issues are related precisely to the areas he knows best: security, international cooperation, the fight against crime, and military relations.

However, how these priorities will be translated and how much space will be occupied by issues of justice, security and the Albanian political crisis, remains to be seen during the new mandate of the American ambassador in Tirana. /S.Gj-Politiko.al