Saudi Arabia Nominates Dr. Hanan Hassan Balkhy for WHO Director-General

Saudi Arabia has nominated Dr. Hanan Hassan Balkhy for the position of World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General. The announcement came during the inaugural meeting of the French-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council, co-chaired by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron in France.

The Crown Prince's visit to France, at the invitation of President Macron, focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations. Both leaders emphasized the historic depth of their relationship, marking the centenary of diplomatic ties. They expressed a shared ambition to give new momentum to their friendship, trust, and mutual respect, aiming to address common interests and global challenges, particularly in the Middle East.

Discussions at the council meeting covered a broad spectrum of cooperation. In defense, a declaration was adopted to strengthen cooperation in armaments and training, with a commitment to increasing coordination for global security and stability. Economically, the leaders noted the growth of bilateral trade, which reached approximately $11.8 billion in 2025, and stressed the need to enhance existing trade relations and joint projects.

The energy sector was a key focus, with emphasis on the stability of global energy markets, security of supply, and protection of maritime routes. Both sides commended Saudi Arabia's role in enhancing supply chain resilience and energy source sustainability. They stressed the need for strengthened cooperation in oil, petrochemicals, sustainable electricity generation, renewable energy, energy storage, peaceful nuclear energy, clean hydrogen, and emission reduction technologies. Cooperation on climate issues and related technological solutions was also highlighted.