Adams was granted honorary citizenship upon his own request, according to an official decree by the country's President Bajram Begaj. The news was first reported by Albanian media and confirmed by Adams' spokesperson, who stated that the former mayor has long been a friend and ally of the Albanian-American community. "The decision by the Republic of Albania to grant citizenship to Eric Adams reflects that enduring relationship and mutual respect," said spokesperson Todd Shapiro in a text message, adding that this recognition further strengthens the bond between New York and Albania. Adams, who has described himself as an "international mayor," has previously expressed affection for this Balkan country. His adult son lived in Albania while competing in their version of "American Idol," and Adams himself traveled there in October, one of several international trips in the final months of his term. At the time, he said the goal was to greet friends, learn from friends, and build a friendship that would not be separated by oceans or seas. It was not immediately clear what Adams plans to do with his new citizenship. However, he has previously expressed a desire to move far from his native New York. "When I retire from government, I will live in Baku," Adams, then Brooklyn borough president, said at an event honoring the Azerbaijani community in 2018. Several years later, in an interview with a Jewish publication, he said he would love to retire in the Golan Heights. As mayor, his penchant for international travel to Turkey led to a federal indictment that included allegations of accepting improper travel benefits from foreign nationals. Adams denied the charges, and the case was later dismissed by order of the Donald Trump administration's Justice Department. He later met with Trump administration officials regarding a potential ambassadorship, which ultimately did not materialize. Shortly after dropping his bid for reelection, Adams embarked on a four-day visit to Albania, where he met with Prime Minister Edi Rama and members of his government, as well as local business leaders. The trip was partially funded by the Albanian government. Since leaving office, he has been spotted in Dubai and the Democratic Republic of Congo, while his day-to-day activities continue to be the subject of speculation.