Richard Grenell, a longstanding foreign policy adviser, was appointed by President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday to serve as an envoy for special missions.

Grenell will be responsible for assisting the incoming administration in addressing some of the most challenging foreign policy issues, as THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER reported.

Grenell served as the special presidential envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations, ambassador to Germany during Trump's first administration, as well as the interim director of national intelligence.

He was also a candidate for the position of secretary of state, but in the end, Trump chose to nominate Marco Rubio, a senator from Florida, to that position.

The Appointment

In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump announced the appointment, stating that "Ric will work in some of the hottest spots around the world, including Venezuela and North Korea."

Grenell has, it seems, developed a reputation for employing a what some might call a contentious approach to diplomacy. HIs previous actions have at times frustrated the foreign policy establishment in Washington and some other allies during Trump's first term.

However, the president-elect, who has made it clear that he values candid communication with allies, found his approach to be commendable.

Grenell maintained a close relationship with Trump following his departure from office in 2021, and he occasionally served as a critical foreign policy advisor.

Eastern European Policy

In September, he was present when Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Grenell has been a proponent of a peace agreement that would preserve Ukraine's territory while still allowing for "autonomous regions" where Russia could maintain control.

He has also, when asked his take, advised against the expansion of NATO to include Ukraine, stating, as Trump has, that the alliance should not expand until current members meet the alliance's defense spending objectives.

For years, members of the transatlantic alliance have pledged to allocate 2% of their GDP to defense; however, numerous nations continue to fall short of this objective.

Previous Support For Trump

He was an early advocate for Trump's 2024 campaign and organized numerous events for the Republican nominee that emphasized national security and economics.

Grenell reiterated Trump's assertion that "it is time to put America first" on the global stage during his speech at the Republican National Convention. He also contended that President Joe Biden's administration was perceived as feeble by China and Russia.

Trump's statements during the 2024 campaign that he would not defend NATO members that failed to meet defense spending targets and that he would "encourage" Russia "to do whatever the hell they want" to alliance countries that he considered "delinquent" caused concern among some allies.