(MENAFN) U.S. President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he has chosen prominent attorney John Coale as the next U.S. special envoy to Belarus, highlighting his track record in negotiating hostage releases.

“I am pleased to announce that John Coale, Esq., known as one of our Country's truly GREAT lawyers ... is being nominated as the United States Special Envoy to Belarus,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Trump praised Coale’s past accomplishments, noting that he “has already successfully negotiated the release of 100 hostages, and is going for an additional 50.” The president also expressed appreciation to Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko “for his consideration on the release of these additional people.”

Coale has reportedly been instrumental in U.S.-Belarus diplomatic contacts during Trump’s second term and previously led talks that secured the release of 52 detainees in September.

In August, Trump and Lukashenko held a phone discussion focusing on bilateral relations and regional matters. Following the call, Trump said he had “a wonderful talk with the highly respected president of Belarus” and thanked him for freeing prisoners, adding that they also discussed “the release of 1,300 additional prisoners.”

According to Belarusian state media, Lukashenko extended an invitation for Trump and his family to visit Minsk — an offer that the U.S. president accepted.

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