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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday he was picking Richard Grenell, his former intelligence chief, to be the president’s special envoy for special missions, a post where he is likely to guide policy toward some U.S. adversaries, including North Korea.
“Rick will be working in some of the hottest spots around the world, including Venezuela and North Korea,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform, without further describing the duties.
Grenell was Trump’s ambassador to Germany, special presidential envoy for peace negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo, and acting director of national intelligence during Trump’s 2017-2021 mandate.
After campaigning for Trump ahead of the Nov. 5 election, he was the top contender for secretary of state, a job that went to U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. He was also considered for the special envoy for the war in Ukraine, which went to retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg (NISE:).
Trump takes office next month.
Presidents appoint special envoys to focus on global issues or crises that often go beyond the ambassador’s focus on bilateral relations with another country.
North Korea and Venezuela are adversaries of the US, although Reuters reported that Trump was considering direct talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, hoping to reduce the risk of armed conflict.
It is unclear what kind of return Kim might offer Trump. The North Koreans have ignored four years of US President Joe Biden’s efforts to start talks without preconditions, and Kim is emboldened by an expanded missile arsenal and a much closer relationship with Russia.
During his presidential campaign, Trump called Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro a dictator. Maduro said Trump’s re-election is a “new beginning” for bilateral relations.
During his first term, Trump imposed tougher sanctions on the South American country, particularly its key oil industry. Maduro broke off relations in 2019.
