The Trump effect? Argentina says it will withdraw from WHO too

The World Health Organization may be in for another blow as another one of its member states announced its intention to withdraw from the agency. Argentina President Javier Milei has instructed his foreign minister, Gerardo Werthein, to withdraw the country from WHO, presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni said on Wednesday in a news conference. Adorni said the decision is due to the country’s “deep differences” on health management, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which he said “led us to the longest confinement in the history of humanity. He also alleged that WHO “lacked the independence from the political influence of other states,” echoing similar accusations made by U.S. President Donald Trump. He said Argentina won’t allow an international organization to intervene in its sovereignty, including on health. The move would give Argentina “greater flexibility” in implementing policies “adapted to Argentina’s context and interests,” he added. Argentina is currently engaged in WHO’s executive board meetings in Geneva, and its representative has pushed back on proposals to increase member state dues to the agency due to budget restrictions. It is unclear what the process is for WHO withdrawal for countries. In the United States, there is legislation giving the U.S. the right to withdraw from the U.N. agency after a one-year notice period, and on the condition that the U.S. has fully paid its dues for the current fiscal year. Argentina’s decision comes on the heels of Trump’s executive order initiating the U.S. pullout from WHO, which experts said should take effect in 2026 but appears to have already started, including the recall of U.S. personnel from WHO. The U.S. is the largest contributor to WHO, and the financial implications of the U.S. withdrawal have been a subject of concern at the board meetings. Member states sitting on WHO’s program, budget, and administration committee already proposed reducing WHO’s proposed budget for 2026-2027, and discussions are ongoing on how the agency can cut back on additional costs from new resolutions and decisions. Argentina pays over $4 million in assessed contributions to WHO annually — or a total of over $8.2 million for the 2024-2025 biennium. It does not appear to have provided voluntary contributions to the agency in 2024, based on data from the WHO budget portal. Early this week, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus refuted claims over the agency’s lack of independence. While WHO tries to be helpful to its member states, he said they “politely” decline requests not backed by scientific evidence, or not in line with WHO’s mission.