The trip of the chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania, Sali Berisha, to the United States of America has reopened the discussion on his position in Albanian politics and the opposition’s prospect of returning to power. Berisha’s supporters have described his presence in the US as an important political development, which could also affect how he is perceived internationally.
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Relations of key Albanian political figures with Washington take on special importance at a time when clashes between the majority and the opposition remain strong. The relationship with the US has long been one of the most debated topics of Berisha’s political career, so the visit has also been seen as an opportunity to open a new stage in his journey.
However, according to two assessments, this trip does not constitute proof that American policy toward Berisha has changed, nor a development that could immediately bring movement on the Albanian political scene. Its direct impact on Kosovo and regional relations is also considered limited, as political balances in the region depend on many broader factors than a single visit.
Consequently, it remains to be seen whether Berisha’s stay in the US will turn into a political gain for him and the opposition, or will be used mainly to strengthen his support within the opposition camp.
Political analyst Adem Lushaj, in a statement to ‘Bota sot’, says the trip should be understood more as Berisha’s return to the American political and diplomatic space, not as a guarantee of his coming back to power.
According to Lushaj, this visit marks an important moment after the period during which Berisha had been excluded from the US and had faced a serious accusation from the American administration.
“I would evaluate this first and foremost as an important moment of his return to the political and diplomatic environment of the United States,” Lushaj said. According to him, the development can be read as a form of political and diplomatic rehabilitation, or at least a changed approach toward Berisha.
The analyst insists, however, that the return of a politician in relations with Washington is not the same as his return to the leadership of Albania.
“It is necessary to separate a politician’s return in relations with Washington from his return to power in Albania,” Lushaj stated. He emphasizes that the latter is determined above all by internal political developments and the support Berisha manages to secure in Albanian society.
Analyzing the effect that a more active role of Berisha in Albanian politics could have for Kosovo, Lushaj says this development could prove positive if the Kosovo issue and Albanian interests are addressed within a responsible Euro-Atlantic framework.
He recalls that Berisha has historically held a clear stance toward Kosovo. Nevertheless, Lushaj warns that his return to the American scene should not create the expectation that Kosovo’s international position will change by itself.
“Kosovo needs stable policies, strong ties with the US and Europe, and above all, a more proactive diplomacy from its institutions,” Lushaj said.
In his assessment, Kosovo must build and strengthen its own international relations, without relying solely on political changes in Albania or on Albanian politicians.
Regarding the term “Rama–Vučić axis”, Lushaj calls for caution in its use. He acknowledges that Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić have had cooperation and shared interests in regional initiatives, but opposes reducing the entire regional policy to an “axis.”
“Between Rama and Vučić there have been shared interests and cooperation within regional initiatives, but I do not believe that all regional politics can be reduced to an ‘axis’,” he said.
According to Lushaj, the strengthening of the opposition in Albania, accompanied by a clearer position on Kosovo, could influence political relations both in Tirana and in the region.
In conclusion, he interprets the visit as a sign of a new chapter in Berisha’s relations with Washington, but not as a “certificate” that guarantees his return to power.
“Every development that strengthens Kosovo’s voice in Washington and in the Euro-Atlantic space should be welcomed, but we should not expect solutions for Kosovo to be produced by political changes in Tirana,” Lushaj concluded.
Another viewpoint is presented by analyst and political official Vendim Demaj. According to him, Berisha’s participation in the Republican Party’s National Convention in Texas is a personal achievement, but is not expected to affect American policy toward Kosovo, Albania, or Serbia.
To discussions on whether allowing Berisha to return to the US shows a new American approach toward him and could change his political future, Demaj answers bluntly in the negative.
He argues that the travel permit to the United States should not be equated with Berisha’s political return in favor of the American administration, much less taken as proof of a change in US policy toward him.
“In my assessment, no. The permission that Sali Berisha has secured to travel to the United States cannot be read as his political return in favor of the American administration, much less as an indicator that the US stance toward him has changed,” Demaj stated to ‘Bota sot’.
Demaj explains that lobbying in the US is a legalized activity and that individuals or organizations can pay companies to lobby. In Berisha’s case, according to him, media in Tirana and some American media have reported on efforts to change the “non-grata” status, while Berisha himself has spoken publicly about engaging lobbying companies and structures.
He mentions LaCivitas, which he describes as linked to a former campaign influencer of President Trump. Demaj also brings up Berisha’s claim that companies have been paid that have connections to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Despite these engagements, Demaj says the result achieved so far should not be overestimated.
“Even after all this extensive effort, the only success Berisha has secured so far is the permission to enter the US, for which the State Department has applied the ‘waiver’ method, meaning a special exemption,” he said.
In Demaj’s judgment, the visit can be called a personal success of Berisha, but not necessarily a political achievement that brings consequences in his relations with Washington.
“America may allow him to pass through a door, but this does not mean it has also opened the door to power,” Demaj said.
He describes the trip as private and links it to participation in the Republican Party’s National Convention in Texas. According to Demaj, efforts by media close to the DP and Berisha to present the visit as a great success should not be confused with a change in American policy.
The visit, according to him, may be used mainly for mobilizing and motivating Berisha’s supporters, but is not expected to directly affect either Albanian political developments or US foreign policy.
Demaj again gives a negative answer when asked whether a stronger return of Berisha to the American political scene could help Kosovo internationally and disrupt what is often called the “Rama–Vučić axis.”
“On this issue as well, my answer is NO,” he stated.
Demaj emphasizes that Berisha is not traveling to the US to hold an official meeting with the American administration. He is not there as a representative of the Albanian state and does not possess a diplomatic mandate on the Kosovo issue.
“In this case, Sali Berisha does not go to America for an official meeting with the American administration, does not present himself as a representative of the Albanian state, and has no diplomatic mandate regarding Kosovo. His participation is in a political activity of the Republican Party,” Demaj said.
For these reasons, the analyst calls exaggerated the idea that this visit could change US relations with Kosovo, Albania, or Serbia.
“Even less can it be seen as an occasion to draw the attention of the American government to problems in Kosovo or Albania, because Mr. Berisha is just one of thousands of guests at the Republican Convention,” Demaj said.
He predicts that the international effect of the visit will be minimal, both for Kosovo and for Albania.
Demaj also recalls that, although Berisha has been granted permission to enter American territory, his “non-grata” status, according to the analyst, continues to appear on the US State Department’s website.
“Although he has received permission to visit America, Mr. Berisha continues to be a ‘non-grata’ person on the State Department’s website,” he stated.
In this context, Demaj considers the visit more as a useful development in Albania’s domestic politics than as proof of a major change in Washington’s stance.
He also links this issue to the case of Republika Srpska leader Milorad Dodik, arguing that the State Department’s position on “non-grata” status should be assessed separately in each case.
In conclusion, Demaj says that Sali Berisha’s trip to the US should be judged realistically. According to him, it is not a warning of a guaranteed return to power, nor a sign of an automatic change in American policy toward Kosovo and the region.
