A major development project led by the family of former U.S. President Donald Trump is set to be constructed in Belgrade, the capital city of Serbia. This ambitious plan has sparked significant controversy, particularly due to the ruling party’s push for rapid development and the passage of a special law that removes the site’s cultural heritage status.
The Serbian parliament approved a bill on the 7th, spearheaded by the ruling Serbia Progressive Party, to fast-track the development of a former military headquarters site in Belgrade. This area, which was designated as a national cultural heritage site in 2006, is now being targeted for a $500 million (approximately 728 billion Korean won) complex. The project includes plans for a Trump hotel, residential apartments, office spaces, and commercial facilities.
The military headquarters, completed in 1965 when Belgrade was the capital of Yugoslavia, was heavily damaged during the NATO bombing campaign in 1999 as part of the Kosovo War. After this destruction, the site remained abandoned for years. It was later recognized as a cultural heritage site due to its historical significance, representing the struggles and tragedies of modern Serbian history.
In the past year, the Serbia Progressive Party endorsed a development plan proposed by Jared Kushner, who is both Trump’s son-in-law and a former senior advisor to the White House. Following Trump’s re-election, the party accelerated the project by passing a special law to strip the site of its cultural heritage status. However, this process has not been without issues, as some individuals were indicted after evidence of forged documents came to light.
Serbia, a country with strong ties to Russia, has taken this step as part of a broader strategy to enhance its relations with the Trump administration. The government aims to maintain friendly relations with multiple global powers, including Russia, the United States, and China. President Aleksandar Vucic previously emphasized this approach in an interview, stating, “If you live in a small country geographically located at the crossroads of various powers, you must safeguard your country’s peace and stability. We have friends in the United States, and we have friends in Russia and China. We are not ashamed of our relationships with them.”
Despite these efforts, opposition parties and civic groups have strongly opposed the project. A lawmaker from the center-left bloc, Marinika Tepic, criticized the decision, saying, “You are sacrificing the nation’s history to please Trump. You plan to pour champagne where bombs once fell.”
