In a continuing shift of the global health politics, Argentina on Wednesday announced it will pull out of the World Health Organization (WHO).
President Javier Milei’s office made the announcement following in the footsteps of the United States which announced its exit from the UN agency last month.
Milei’s decision stemmed from “deep differences regarding health management, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” spokesman Manuel Adorni told reporters. He added, “Argentina will not allow an international body to interfere in our sovereignty.“
Adorni explained that this measure would provide Argentina with “greater flexibility to implement policies adapted to the local context” and ensure “greater availability of resources.”
President Milei, a self-proclaimed “anarcho-capitalist,” is a supporter of US President Donald Trump.
In January, Trump signed an Executive Order withdrawing the US from the WHO within hours of his January 20 inauguration, criticizing the organization’s response during the 2019 -2021 COVID Pandemic.
READ ALSO | Trump Signs Executive Order to Defund UNRWA and Withdraw from UN Human Rights Council
Trump supporters still believe that WHO manipulated the pandemic to provide the cover leading to Trump electoral defeat in 2020.
Washington was the biggest contributor to the Geneva-based WHO, and its withdrawal could significantly impact global health initiatives. Trump claimed the organization had “ripped us off.“
Since assuming office in December 2023, Milei has implemented austerity measures to maintain a zero budget deficit. These measures have reportedly pushed millions more Argentinians into poverty, but the country recorded its largest-ever trade surplus in 2024 due to decreased imports and spending.
Milei was the first foreign leader to visit Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida following Trump’s November election victory.
Argentina’s exit from the WHO reflects a broader trend of nationalist policies and skepticism towards international organizations.
Like 👍, Comment, share this article, and Follow us on our social media handles.
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
. President Milei's decision emphasizes national sovereignty, but is this the beginning of the melt down of international order?){kind=link}