Politics Argentina announces withdrawal from WHO
Following the USA, Argentina has also announced its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO). "President Javier Milei has instructed Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein to withdraw Argentina from the WHO," said government spokesman Manuel Adorni at a press conference. He cited profound differences regarding health management during the coronavirus pandemic as the reason.
05.02.2025, 16:44
SDA
In January, US President Donald Trump ordered the USA to withdraw from the WHO. The US government had contributed 18% of the WHO budget last year. Argentina's withdrawal will not put the WHO in the same financial straits as the USA's move. As contributions are based on a country's economic strength and Argentina's economy is at rock bottom, the mandatory contribution is minimal: 8 million dollars, compared to 260 million dollars for the USA.
Devastating signal effect
In addition, the USA, unlike Argentina, has given several hundred million dollars each year for WHO health programs. However, the signal effect is devastating: practically every country in the world is a member of the WHO, a total of 194 countries, including North Korea, for example. If other countries were to join the USA and Argentina, this would be a serious blow to the UN principle of tackling problems and threats as multilaterally as possible.
"We Argentines will not allow an international organization to interfere with our sovereignty and certainly not with our health," said Adorni. The measure would not mean a loss of resources for the country. Instead, it would provide greater flexibility in the implementation of measures that are adapted to the interests required by Argentina and greater availability of resources.
Trump had also stated in a presidential decree that the organization had reacted poorly to the coronavirus pandemic and was demanding unfair contributions from the United States.
Very strict rules during the coronavirus pandemic
At the beginning of the pandemic, Argentina imposed very strict measures against the spread of the coronavirus. The lockdown also lasted longer than in almost any other country in the world. In some cases, people were only allowed to leave their homes for important shopping trips and visits to the doctor.
