BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Argentina’s president has ordered the nation’s withdrawal from the World Well being Group resulting from “profound variations” with the U.N. company, a presidential spokesperson stated Wednesday.
President Javier Milei’s resolution echoes that of his ally, U.S. President Donald Trump, who started the method of pulling the US 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 supply solely about $8 million to WHO for the company’s estimated $6.9 billion 2024-2025 finances.
Argentina’s resolution is predicated on “profound variations in well being administration, particularly throughout the (COVID-19) pandemic,” spokesperson Manuel Adorni advised a information convention in Buenos Aires. He stated WHO tips on the time led to the biggest shutdown “within the historical past of mankind.”
Argentina won’t permit a world group to intervene in its sovereignty “and far much less in our well being,” he added.
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 stated it was wanting into Argentina’s announcement.
Adorni didn’t say when Milei’s resolution 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 illnesses 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 stated Wednesday in a put up on X criticizing the U.N. company.
Argentina doesn’t obtain WHO funding for well being administration, and the president’s resolution doesn’t have an effect on the standard of well being companies, Adorni stated.
“Quite the opposite, it provides 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 throughout the WHO framework, on the grounds that doing so may 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 may 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 may meet Trump.
Go Advert-Free — And Shield The Free Press
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
Related Press author Maria Cheng in London contributed.
