BUENOS AIRES – Argentina has announced that it is ending its relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO). Argentine President Javier Millei said that he ordered his country to withdraw from the United Nations agency due to many differences.
His decision is in line with the order of his friend and ally US President Donald Trump. On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order to begin the process of withdrawing the United States from the WHO.
The exit of another member country from the WHO has begun to worry that the cooperation in global health will be further weakened. However, the WHO was expected to receive only about $8 million from Argentina out of its estimated $6.9 billion budget for 2024/2025.
Argentina’s decision is based on profound differences in health management, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, said spokesman Manuel Adorni in Buenos Aires. He said the WHO guidelines at the time led to the largest lockdowns in human history.
He also said that the WHO has no authority to force countries to take specific health actions and that the guidelines and recommendations of the organization are often ignored. This includes health crises such as COVID-19. However, Adorni did not say when Miley’s decision would take effect. He also said that the independence of the WHO has decreased due to the political influence of some countries without naming anyone.
WHO considering Argentina’s declaration
The WHO said it was considering Argentina’s declaration. WHO is the only organization mandated to coordinate global responses to major health crises, new disease outbreaks and existing health threats, including Ebola, AIDS and monkeypox.