A newly revealed $6 million lobbying contract between Albania’s Democratic Party (PD) and the U.S.-based firm Continental Strategy has sparked major questions not only about its unprecedented size, but also about the authenticity of the signatures securing it.
The document, secured by Report TV, shows the unmistakable signature of Flamur Noka, PD’s Secretary General. Yet next to the name of the contract’s guarantor, Nuredin Seci, there appears little more than an illegible scrawl – raising immediate doubts about whether Seci himself knowingly or legally authorized the financial commitment.
Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American from Tropoja, currently lives in New Jersey, where he serves as a board member of Vatra Mëmëdheu, a diaspora organization
established in 2025. He is also the New Jersey coordinator of Gazeta e Alpeve, a publication promoting notable figures and traditions from his homeland. Despite these community ties, Seci’s emergence as guarantor for a multimillion-dollar lobbying deal in Washington raises more questions than it answers.
Lobbying to Lift Berisha`s “Non Grata“ Status – At Any Costs
Signed on April 4, the contract commits the Democratic Party to an eye-watering payment plan: an upfront sum of $750,000 followed by monthly instalments of $250,000 over two years, totalling $6 million. At the heart of the lobbying effort is a goal that PD leaders have so far been reluctant to admit publicly: restoring former Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s standing with the U.S. government, after he was declared persona non grata in 2021 for “significant corruption“; and undermining democracy.
The U.S. firm Continental Strategy, led by Carlos Trujillo, a former ambassador to the Organization of American States under Trump – has strong links to Donald Trump’s political network. One of its senior executives is Katie Wiles, daughter of Susie Wiles, who currently serves as Trump`s White House Chief of Staff following his 2024 re-election. The first action under the contract? Arranging a phone call with Dan Holler, Chief of Staff to Senator Marco Rubio – one of the few figures in Washington with the political clout to potentially influence decisions on blacklisted foreign leaders.
Who is Behind the Money?
Beyond questions of political intent, the contract leaves a glaring financial mystery: where is the Democratic Party finding $6 million to fund this lobbying effort? Under the agreement’s terms, if the client (PD) fails to make its payments, the guarantor (Seci) must cover them. Yet Nuredin Seci has no public profile as a financier or major political donor, raising the possibility that he was either unaware of the scope of his commitment – or that others are quietly bankrolling the deal behind the scenes. The suspicious appearance of Seci’s signature only deepens concerns about the transparency and legality of the arrangement.
According to the contract, Continental Strategy will deliver a broad package of services for PD, including:
- Estalblishing relationships with key actors in the U.S. government and Congress;
- Supporting initiatives for democracy promotion, anti-corruption, and governance reforms aligned with U.S. – Albanian relations;
- Leveraging its extensive government affairs and advocacy experience to advance PD`s objectives – including those of its allied coalition, the Alliance for Greater Albania.
Continental Strategy: A Political Powerhouse in Trump`s Shadow
Founded in 2021 after Trump`s first team, Continental Strategy has evolved into a key lobbying force deeply connected to the Republican establishment. In addition to Wiles, the firm has recruited Alberto Martinez, former Chief of Staff to Senator Marco Rubio, and Alex Garcia, former Deputy Political Director of Trump`s campaign.
The timing and composition of Continental Strategy`s leadership leave little doubt: PD has deliberately chosen a firm with close ties to Trump`s inner circle, aiming to leverage those relationships to rehabilitate Berisha`s image – and perhaps reposition itself in the post-Biden Washington landscape.
In short, the $6 million question isn`t just who signed, but who is really pulling the strings behind Albania`s most expensive lobbying gamble in history.
Written by our correspondent A.T.
