The WHO, which promotes health worldwide, is already making cutbacks following the loss of U.S. funding.
Argentinian President Javier Milei says he’ll pull his country out of the World Health Organization, following the lead of his ally, United States President Donald Trump.
Presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni informed reporters of the decision, first reported by Argentinian newspaper La Nacion, on Wednesday. In a statement, Milei’s office accused the WHO’s positions of being the “result of political influence, not based on science.” His office also said that the U.N. body is inflexible to change and that it seeks to limit the sovereignty of countries.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday pushed back against similar claims made by Trump, saying: “We believe in continuous improvement, and we would welcome suggestions from the United States and all member states for how we can serve you and the people of the world better,” he said.
Trump has accused WHO of being in thrall to China and bungling its Covid-19 response, claims firmly rejected by Tedros. When countries ask the WHO for anything that goes beyond its mission to support global health, “we say no, politely,” Tedros said.
The withdrawal of the U.S., the WHO’s biggest funder, has forced the organization into a round of cost-cutting measures, including limits to technical support and a freeze on new hires.
A WHO spokesperson told POLITICO the agency is looking into Argentina’s statement.
