Receiving dignitaries at his Florida estate and courting leaders shunned elsewhere as autocratic, Donald Trump is increasingly leading a shadow diplomacy diametrically opposed to US President Joe Biden.A potential Trump return has caused unease among many traditional political leaders in US allies. Earlier this year Trump warned of siding with Russia over NATO allies who “don’t pay (their) bills,” a reference to defense spending targets.While out of power, Grenell — who also served as Trump’s Balkans envoy — has met Serbian President Aleksander Vucic, who has cordial relations with the Biden administration but not the friendly embrace of Trump’s team.
Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner has moved to do business in Serbia, including with plans to build luxury real estate at the site of the former Yugoslav army headquarters destroyed in 1999 NATO strikes during the Kosovo war.
Kushner, a family friend of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who led Trump’s Middle East policy, has also drawn scrutiny after leaving office for starting a private equity firm that received a reported $2 billion from a fund controlled by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The Trump administration had steadfastly defended the de facto ruler of the kingdom, who US intelligence say ordered the brutal killing of US-based dissident writer Jamal Khashoggi.
Trump’s campaign declined comment to AFP.
Grenell, speaking to the conservative gathering CPAC in February, said business deals were integral to their strategy.
“Part of our foreign policy is to avoid the political talk and figure out ways to do greater trade that is going to make us more safe,” Grenell said.
He made no apologies for his abrasive reputation.
“You better have an SOB diplomat if you want to avoid war.”
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