Berisha fears U.S. collaboration with DP more than his own sanctions

The U.S. Embassy’s warning about the future of Sali Berisha’s relations with the United States was not directed at him. Berisha already knows where he stands with the U.S. He understands that his non-grata status will not be lifted, and there are no illusions on either side about this. The U.S. knows Berisha is fully aware of his situation.

The real message was aimed at the Democratic Party (DP) and those who continue to follow Berisha like loyal soldiers, hoping for a seat in the next parliament. The U.S. wants to make it clear that they are backing the wrong leader.

This message might not have been necessary if Berisha and his followers had not launched a propaganda campaign, claiming that Donald Trump’s return to power would reverse Berisha’s non-grata status. Statements suggesting that a Trump presidency would restore Berisha’s influence in Albania, or threats against former U.S. diplomats, reveal a misguided and insulting perception of the United States—as if it were a country that shifts its principles with each administration.

This is the first strong, unambiguous message that nothing will change for Berisha. Any attempts to mislead voters with such narratives will fail. The U.S. position is not rooted in hostility toward the Democratic Party. On the contrary, it reflects respect for the DP and its role as a pro-Western political force. The U.S. wants to separate the DP’s future from Berisha’s anti-American leadership.

At the same time, the message encourages the DP to preserve its pro-Western stance and avoid the path of violence and conflict that Berisha promotes to serve his personal interests. By affirming that they remain in contact with DP leaders whom they consider credible, the U.S. is advising the party to “engage constructively in a fair and inclusive political process.”

For Berisha, this is more damaging than the U.S. openly declaring they will not work with him. What hurts him most is not his isolation but the fact that the U.S. is encouraging the rest of the DP to move forward without him. Berisha would rather remain isolated indefinitely than accept a Democratic Party that follows U.S. advice and rejects his leadership.

For three years, Berisha’s strategy has been to use the DP as a shield against U.S. sanctions. Now that the U.S. is engaging directly with the DP, undermining his influence, it marks the collapse of his entire plan.

Thus, while the rest of the DP may feel alarmed by the U.S. stance, Berisha’s greatest fear is not U.S. rejection of him but their willingness to work with the Democratic Party. That is what keeps him awake at night.

The article initially appeared in Albanian titled: "Berisha është i shqetësuar pse SHBA bashkëpunon me PD, jo pse e ka izoluar atë!"