President-elect Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he has picked Richard Grenell, a long-term foreign policy expert, as the envoy for special missions.
Trump announced Grenell’s appointment on Saturday via Truth Social. “Ric will work in some of the hottest spots around the World, including Venezuela and North Korea,” Trump said, without detailing specific responsibilities.
According to Reuters sources close to the Trump transition the Balkans will also be a focus for Grenell.
Grenell previously served as ambassador to Germany and special envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations under the Trump administration. He also briefly held the position of acting director of national intelligence.
After departing from his official role in 2021, Grenell maintained a strong connection with Trump, offering guidance particularly on international affairs. During Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in September, Grenell was present. He has supported a diplomatic resolution that would protect Ukraine‘s sovereignty whilst establishing “autonomous regions” under Russian influence.
Additionally, he shares Trump’s stance against Ukraine’s Nato membership, contending that the alliance should not welcome new members until existing ones fulfil their defence spending commitments. Despite longstanding agreements for NATO members to allocate 2% of their GDP towards defence, numerous countries have yet to achieve this threshold.
Following Grenell’s campaign support for Trump before the November 5 election, he was considered for secretary of state, ultimately awarded to US Senator Marco Rubio. He was also in contention for special envoy for the Ukraine war, a position given to retired lieutenant general Keith Kellogg.
As a supporter, Grenell organised several gatherings centred on economic policies and national security matters for the Republican candidate. During his address at the Republican National Convention, he reinforced Trump’s signature message that “it’s time to put America first” in international affairs, whilst asserting that both China and Russia perceived President Joe Biden’s leadership as ineffective.
In Michigan, Grenell played a significant role in Trump’s outreach to Arab American voters, a traditionally Democratic-leaning group, despite Trump’s previous restrictions on immigration from predominantly Muslim nations. He coordinated several pro-Trump gatherings with Arab American communities, including an assembly in Troy, Michigan in May.
Trump is set to take office next month. The creation of special envoy positions is a common presidential practice for addressing specific global issues and diplomatic efforts.