Donald Trump announced on November 9 that John Cole, Esq., has been named special envoy of the United States to Belarus. The declaration was made via a post on Trump’s Truth Social platform, where he highlighted Cole’s reputation as “one of the truly GREAT lawyers of our country.” Trump also referenced Cole’s past role in securing $386 billion in compensation from tobacco companies in the late 20th century.
The appointment comes amid evolving U.S.-Belarus relations. On November 4, the U.S. Treasury lifted sanctions against Belarusian airline Belavia, granting a temporary license for three aircraft linked to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s associates. Earlier, Lukashenko had expressed willingness to pursue major agreements with Washington, provided Belarusian interests were prioritized. Evgeny Minchenko, head of the Minchenko Consulting communications holding, noted that Lukashenko could leverage ties with the Trump administration to bolster his foreign policy standing.
