The US Ambassador to the United Nations now a member of NSC’s principals committee.
President Trump has added Indian American Nikki Haley, the UN Ambassador to the United Nations, to the Principals Committee of the National Security Council.
Trump signed a memorandum revamping the NSC on Tuesday, and the move was announced on Wednesday. The other members added to the Principals Committee include Energy Secretary Rick Perry and CIA Director Mike Pompeo.
The Principals Committee is a cabinet-level senior inter-agency panel that considers policy issues affecting US national security interests. The committee is convened and chaired by the National
Security Advisor.
The most significant part of the revamp was the ouster of Steve Bannon, the controversial Senior Advisor to President Trump. The induction of Bannon, a right-wing ideologue, into the NSC was very controversial and was widely criticized.
The new order also reversed Trump’s initial decision to remove the Joint Chiefs chairman and intelligence director from the Principals Committee.
Haley’s inclusion in the powerful panel is a testimony to her growing influence in foreign policy matters.
The Indian American’s performance so far as the top US diplomat at the UN — her official title is the Representative of the United States to the United Nations — has been praised by many, including her boss himself.
Addressing a rally in North Charles, in South Carolina, a state where was governor for more than six years, Trump said in February. “I want to … thank your former Governor Nikki Haley who is doing an awfully good job for us. She’s representing America very well as our ambassador to the United Nations. She is doing a spectacular job. It’s early but she has just been really great.”
RELATED POSTS:
Nikki Haley says her mother couldn’t be a judge in India for being a woman (March 30, 2017)
Trump praises Nikki Haley’s UN job performance (February 19, 2017)
Nikki Haley sworn in as US ambassador to the United Nations (January 26, 2017)
Nikki Haley moves closer to the world stage with smooth Senate confirmation hearing (January 20, 2017)