Jordan and Saudi Arabia join IAEA board of governors

Jordan and Saudi Arabia were elected on Friday to the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) during the Agency’s 69th General Conference held in Vienna, Austria, the organization’s headquarters.

The Board of Governors is one of the two main policy-making bodies of the IAEA, alongside the General Conference. It is responsible for overseeing the Agency’s activities, examining its budget, approving nuclear safeguards agreements, and making recommendations to the United Nations General Assembly.

Membership on the Board allows countries to directly participate in shaping global decisions on nuclear energy and its peaceful applications.

Established in 1957 under the auspices of the United Nations, the IAEA’s primary mission is to promote the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear energy. Its work focuses on three essential areas:

• Nuclear safety: Helping countries establish standards and infrastructure to ensure the security of nuclear facilities.
• Non-proliferation: Ensuring that nuclear materials and technologies are not diverted to military purposes.
• Peaceful applications: Supporting the use of nuclear science in medicine (radiotherapy, medical imaging), agriculture (crop improvement), water management, and energy production.

A Platform for Influence

By joining the Board of Governors, Jordan and Saudi Arabia now have a significant platform to defend their national interests and to contribute to global debates on nuclear energy, safety, and non-proliferation.

Their election underscores the growing role of Middle Eastern countries in shaping the future of nuclear technology for peaceful and developmental purposes.