US President-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday he was choosing his former intelligence chief Richard Grenell to be the presidential envoy for special missions, a post where he would likely run policies towards some US adversaries, including North Korea.
“Rick will be working in some of the hottest spots around the world, including Venezuela and North Korea,” Mr Trump said on his Truth social media platform, without giving further details of the duties.
A source close to the Trump transition told Reuters that Grenell will also focus on tensions in the Balkans.
Mr Grenell served as Mr Trump’s ambassador to Germany, a special presidential envoy to Serbia and Kosovo peace talks, and acting director of national intelligence during Mr Trump’s 2017-2021 term.
After campaigning for Mr Trump before the November 5 election, he was a top contender for secretary of state, a post that went to US Senator Marco Rubio. He was also considered as the special envoy for the Ukraine war, which went to retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg.
Mr Trump will take office next month.
The President appoints ambassadors and special envoys to focus on global issues, crises, or specific diplomatic efforts.
North Korea and Venezuela are rivals of the US, although Reuters has reported that Mr Trump has considered holding direct talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in hopes of reducing the risks of armed conflict.
It is unclear how Kim will respond to Mr Trump. The North Koreans ignored four years of efforts by US President Joe Biden to start talks without preconditions, and Mr Kim is emboldened by an expanded missile arsenal and a much closer relationship with Russia.
During his presidential campaign, Mr Trump called Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro a dictator. Mr Maduro said Mr Trump’s re-election was “a new beginning” for bilateral relations.
In his first term, Mr Trump imposed harsh sanctions on the South American country, particularly its key oil industry. Mr Maduro cut ties in 2019.
Mr Grenell had previous talks with Maduro allies.
Reuters reported that in 2020 Grenell met secretly with Maduro’s representative to try to secure the Venezuelan leader’s peaceful exit from power, as his re-election in 2018 was considered a sham by most Western countries. , but no agreement was reached.
Republican U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty expressed quick support for Grenell, saying on Twitter that he would “do a great job tackling some of the world’s toughest challenges.”
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