This country announces exit from WHO following Trump’s command

Argentina was set to follow in the footsteps of U.S. President Donald Trump as it announced on Thursday its decision to exit from WHO or World Health Organization in protest of how the agency managed the COVID-19 pandemic and for its political influence. Argentina’s announcement was made by presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni, weeks after Trump signed an executive order that pulled the United States out of the global health body.

Argentine President Javier Milei, a self-proclaimed libertarian who has not hidden his praise for Trump, also shared this criticism of WHO’s performance throughout the global health crisis. “We have profound differences with the organization, starting with its actions in the Covid-19 period,” Adorni said as he pointed to Argentina’s decisive lockdown, adopted by the outgoing left-wing administration, as “a key driver of the current position.”

Argentica announces exit from WHO after mismanagement during global health crisis

Other grievances of the Argentine government against WHO include the supposed lack of independence. According to Adorni, undue political influence from other countries, specifically in how it dealt with health crises around the world, has been an issue. This is something that was echoed by Trump, who criticized the WHO on how it handles international health crises and the amount of money that the U.S. has to shell out being the biggest contributor to the organization.

Such a move by Argentina adds to the growing criticism of WHO, especially after the pandemic, which has exposed fault lines between member states. Argentina’s decision to side with Trump on WHO marks a potential shift in Argentina’s foreign policy in light of Milei positioning himself globally as an advocate for greater autonomy in health governance.

The WHO has not commented on Argentina’s withdrawal yet, but the move reflects the persistent tension between the organization and the countries that criticize its leadership and policies. With Milei moving ahead with his government’s priorities, the exit from the WHO is part of a broader effort to align Argentina’s health and political strategy with like-minded international leaders.

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