Richard Grenell’s Balkans visits: unofficial US diplomacy or private business?

Richard Grenell, the longtime Donald Trump ally and special presidential envoy, returned to the Balkans in August for what was described as an “unofficial visit.”

Grenell served as the special envoy to Serbia and Kosovo during Trump’s first term and has now been appointed as the presidential envoy for special missions.

Despite the informal label, his meetings, media engagements, and confident demeanor suggested a calculated diplomatic tour, raising questions about his intentions and influence in the region.

Regional sources noted that Grenell’s rhetoric carried the weight of an official envoy, with subtle hints that he anticipates a more prominent role in 2026, possibly under a new U.S. administration.

Meetings in Montenegro: a mix of confirmed and unverified encounters

Montenegrin outlet Antena M reported on 6 August that Grenell met with Milorad Dodik, the recently convicted president of Republika Srpska, at the One and Only hotel in Portonovi, Montenegro. The meeting coincided with the abrupt cancellation of a rally planned by Dodik’s party, the Independent Social Democrats, initially intended to protest his court verdict. Sources indicated an unnamed Republican congresswoman was present, though no Montenegrin officials were involved in organizing the encounter near Herceg Novi. Authorities in Banja Luka did not confirm the meeting.

Unverified reports from Monitor suggested Grenell also met with Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Majda Adžović that same day, with discussions reportedly focusing on contentious airport concession deals. Official sources close to Spajić denied these meetings, and Adžović did not respond to inquiries.

On 7 August, borba.me, a portal linked to the pro-Serbia and pro-Russia “For the Future of Montenegro” coalition, reported that Grenell met with Milan Knežević, leader of the Democratic People’s Party, in a Montenegrin coastal town. The nearly two-hour meeting involved an open exchange on Montenegro’s political landscape, security, economic challenges, and international relations. Both parties agreed to maintain communication, with plans for future discussions.

Earlier, on 19 July, Nik Gjeljoshaj, Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister and Economic Development Minister, announced he had met Grenell in Washington, D.C. Gjeljoshaj, who chairs the commission overseeing airport concessions, described Grenell as a “great friend of the Balkan countries” and sought U.S. support for Montenegro’s EU accession and stronger bilateral ties.

He also claimed to have met FBI Director Christopher Wray and his senior team to discuss the rule of law and attracting Western investment.

However, the Montenegrin government clarified that Gjeljoshaj’s trip was private, and no photographic evidence of these meetings was provided. Gjeljoshaj’s dissatisfaction with the outcome of a U.S.–Luxembourg bidder’s failure in the airport concession tender was well-documented prior to his U.S. visit.

Regional engagements: Croatia, Kosovo, and Albania

After Montenegro, Grenell traveled to Croatia, posting an Instagram photo from Dubrovnik’s old town. On the same day, Kosovo’s Gazeta Express reported that Grenell met with Shkëlqim Devolli, a shareholder in the Devolli Corporation, to discuss fostering economic growth in Kosovo through foreign investment.

The outlet emphasized Grenell’s reaffirmation of the Trump administration’s commitment to supporting Kosovo and the Western Balkans, promoting “peace, stability, and prosperity.” Devolli, a frequent U.S. visitor with ties to Republican figures like Senators Roger Wicker and Ted Cruz, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and former CIA Director John Ratcliffe, agreed to continue dialogue for joint economic projects.

Monitor sources indicated Grenell visited the Albanian coast before Montenegro, holding meetings with Albanian officials and giving an interview to Klan Kosova on 9 August.

Unconfirmed reports also placed him in the region with Serbian Finance Minister Siniša Mali. Notably, in October 2023, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić awarded Grenell the Order of the Serbian Flag, First Degree, for strengthening Serbia–U.S. relations, mirroring a similar honor from Kosovo in 2020.

Albanian media outlet Top Channel reported Grenell vacationed in Ksamil, a resort on Albania’s southern coast, echoing a similar trip in 2024.

He posted a social media video captioned “Albania with Americans,” signaling a blend of leisure and networking.

Meanwhile, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, has secured strategic investor status from the Albanian government for a luxury resort project on Sazan Island, highlighting growing U.S. interest in the region.

Grenell’s status: freelance actor or unofficial envoy?

Despite his high-profile engagements, Grenell’s official status remains ambiguous. Currently serving as acting director of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, he is reportedly at odds with key figures in Trump’s circle, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and chief of staff Susie Wiles.

U.S. media suggest his influence from Trump’s first term has waned. When Monitor inquired about Grenell’s activities in Montenegro and his meeting with Dodik, the U.S. Embassy in Podgorica referred questions to the State Department’s European desk, which redirected inquiries to Grenell’s office.

No response was received. Unofficial Washington sources confirmed to Monitor that the State Department was not involved in Grenell’s trip, describing him as a “freelance” actor.

Yet, regional interlocutors described Grenell’s demeanor as that of an official envoy, with hints that he anticipates a more significant role in 2026. His meetings, carefully covered by local media, carried an authoritative tone, with promises of continued collaboration and economic investment.

Grenell’s visit underscores Montenegro’s precarious position in navigating international relations. Bilateral ties with the U.S. have been lackluster under Prime Minister Spajić’s government.

In contrast, Serbia has actively strengthened its U.S. ties, exemplified by Foreign Minister Marko Djurić’s August meeting with Secretary Rubio. Djurić, a former ambassador to Washington, secured a commitment for a U.S.–Serbia “strategic dialogue” by year’s end, focusing on defense, security, and energy. Serbia’s proactive lobbying contrasts with Montenegro’s apparent indifference, including the diminished presence of a Montenegrin caucus in the U.S. Congress.

Richard Grenell’s Balkans tour, whether an unofficial venture or a calculated move, exemplifies the Trump administration’s diplomatic approach, where the lines between official duties and private interests are, at best, indistinct.

This article is based on a commentary by Jovo Martinović from the Montenegrin media Monitor.

Caption: President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić met 24 January 2020 with the US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for Kosovo and Metohija, Richard Grenell, to discuss the economic growth and infrastructural connections of the region and the relations between Belgrade and Priština. Presidency of Serbia / DImitrije Goll