Kesic: Grenell could join the Belgrade-Pristina negotiations

Political analyst Obrad Kesic stated that Richard Grenell, the special envoy of US President Donald Trump for special missions, could return to the Balkans and become involved in negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina.

"The mandate given to him by Trump means that he will deal with areas of major crises. We know that these negotiations are a significant challenge for the Trump administration and represent a crisis in Europe that must be resolved. I believe his mandate is broadly defined, giving him room to easily find a way to engage in the entire Belgrade-Pristina dialogue process and negotiations. I think this would be very beneficial for Serbia," Kesic told Kosovo Online.

He emphasizes that the initial moves by the new US president should be viewed within the broader context of US relations with key partners, particularly Hungary in Europe.

"We need to consider this issue within the broader US relations with key partners. In Europe, the most important partner will be Orban, which definitely works in Serbia’s favor because Serbia has very close relations and strong cooperation with Hungary. Similarly, Orban and Hungary have excellent, close ties with Republika Srpska. As Trump’s primary partner in Europe, Orban opens much wider doors for both Serbia and Republika Srpska," Kesic said.

When asked about Trump’s recent statements regarding Greenland and whether they relate to Kosovo, Kesic said that they reflect Trump’s negotiation style in addressing US interests.

"Trump spoke half-seriously about Greenland because he wanted to open the topic of how the US could benefit from Greenland's natural resources. With such remarks, he initiates negotiations, at least in his view. He starts by radicalizing positions, so anything he later offers seems much more acceptable than what he initially said," Kesic explained.

He adds that even Trump was surprised by the reactions his statements provoked.

"If we look at social media and what his son posted, we see there is a movement advocating independence for Greenland. At the same time, a small number of people in Greenland see this as an opportunity to draw broader attention. The MAGA movement in the US has now found a few individuals wanting to represent that movement in Greenland," Kesic elaborated.

He sees the background of such statements as better positioning for negotiations on trade with Greenland, Panama, and Canada.

"This is his negotiation style. He takes a radical stance, initiates various initiatives to start serious negotiations, and 'drives a hard bargain' with the idea of securing the best possible deal with the other side. I see the same strategy with Greenland, Panama, and Canada. He is seeking much better deals with those countries, particularly regarding US exports there and cheaper goods entering the US. He is now threatening tariffs. Essentially, Trump positions himself as an unpredictable and, in some ways, radical disruptor of the international order. He believes this approach gives him much more leverage in negotiations, potentially allowing him to achieve something that might otherwise be difficult," Kesic concluded.