Trump Nominates Special Envoy to Belarus, Wants More Prisoners Freed

Trump Nominates Special Envoy to Belarus, Wants More Prisoners Freed
U.S. President Donald Trump's representative John Coale speaks with Reuters, on the day prisoners released from Belarus arrive to Vilnius, Lithuania, September 11, 2025. Kacper Pempel/Reuters
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President Donald Trump on Sunday said John Coale, who helped negotiate the release of prisoners from Belarus, was his choice for special envoy to Minsk and would press for the release of more detainees.

Trump has increased U.S. engagement with the authoritarian state, sending multiple delegations to Minsk this year. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.