WASHINGTON – White House has announced Mira Ricardel, a senior official inthe department of commerce, as the next deputy national security adviser.
Ricardel has served three administrations and is currently undersecretaryfor export administration, heading the Bureau of Industry and Security. Thebureau, on her watch, added seven Pakistani private companies to a list ofentities barred from purchasing sensitive technology without a license,which they will be rarely granted.
That designation is likely to imperil Pakistan’s ambition to join elitegroups of nations that closely control trading in sensitive dual-usetechnology and nuclear equipment and fuel for a long time.
“I selected her as deputy national security advisor because her expertiseis broad-based and includes national security matters related to ouralliances, defence posture, technology security, foreign securityassistance, and arms control,” National Security Advisor John Bolton saidin a statement.
“Her policy-making and interagency experience will make her a greataddition to the National Security Council,” he added.
Ricardel is known in Washington DC national security circles as someone whois “favourably disposed towards India”.