BUENOS AIRES — Argentina’s president has ordered the nation’s withdrawal from the World Well being Group as a result of “profound variations” with the U.N. company, a presidential spokesperson mentioned Wednesday.
President Javier Milei’s choice echoes that of his ally, U.S. President Donald Trump, who started the method of pulling the USA out of WHO with an govt order on his first day again in workplace on Jan. 21.
The lack of one other member nation will additional fracture cooperation in world well being, although Argentina was anticipated to offer solely about $8 million to WHO for the company’s estimated $6.9 billion 2024-2025 funds.
Argentina’s choice is predicated on “profound variations in well being administration, particularly throughout the (COVID-19) pandemic,” spokesperson Manuel Adorni instructed a information convention in Buenos Aires. He mentioned WHO tips on the time led to the biggest shutdown “within the historical past of mankind.”
Argentina is not going to enable a global group to intervene in its sovereignty “and far much less in our well being,” he added.
CDC ordered to cease working with WHO instantly, upending expectations of an prolonged withdrawal
WHO has no authority to compel nations to take particular well being actions, and the group’s tips and suggestions, together with in well being crises like COVID-19, are sometimes disregarded.
WHO mentioned it was trying into Argentina’s announcement.
Adorni didn’t say when Milei’s choice could be carried out. He additionally asserted that WHO lacks independence due to the political affect of some nations, with out naming any.
WHO is the one group mandated to coordinate world responses to acute well being crises, notably outbreaks of recent ailments and chronic threats together with Ebola, AIDS and mpox.
Milei was a pointy critic of the lockdown imposed by former President Alberto Fernandez throughout the pandemic, asserting that it damage the financial system and that the federal government used it as a mechanism of “repression.”
“LONG LIVE FREEDOM,” Milei mentioned Wednesday in a publish on X criticizing the U.N. company.
Argentina doesn’t obtain WHO funding for well being administration, and the president’s choice doesn’t have an effect on the standard of well being providers, Adorni mentioned.
“Quite the opposite, it offers better flexibility to implement insurance policies adopted to the context of pursuits that Argentina requires,” he added.
Final 12 months, Milei’s authorities refused to signal an settlement to handle pandemics inside the WHO framework, on the grounds that doing so might have an effect on nationwide sovereignty.
The announcement on the WHO comes forward of Milei’s journey to the U.S. later this month that can coincide with the Conservative Political Motion Convention summit of right-wing leaders in Washington. The spokesperson has not confirmed that Milei will attend or that he would possibly meet Trump.
