Argentina Follows Suit With Trump and Pulls Out of World Health Organization, Cites 'Deep Differences' Regarding COVID-19 Response

Three weeks after President Donald Trump decided to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), Argentine President Javier Milei announced on Feb. 5 that the South American country was doing the same.

Presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni said at a news conference on Wednesday that Milei instructed Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein to withdraw Argentina's participation in the World Health Organization.

According to Adorni, the decision was based on "profound differences" regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Argentine government accusing the WHO of leading them to "the longest lockdown in human history."

"We Argentinians will not allow an international organization to intervene in our sovereignty, much less in our health," Adorni added.

In a statement released by Argentina's presidential office, Milei's administration accused the WHO of causing economic damage during the pandemic by "promoting endless quarantines."

According to data from the WHO, Argentina presented a little over 10 million COVID-19 cases, resulting in more than 130,000 deaths. In the Americas, only the U.S. (103 million) and Brazil (37 million) presented more cases than Argentina during the pandemic.

Although the WHO works in the South American country, it does not receive financing from its health management, according to Adorni, adding that the decision "does not represent a loss of funds" nor does it affect the quality of services and that pulling out of the WHO reaffirms Argentina's path "towards a country with sovereignty also in health matters."

As CNN reports, the Argentine official claimed the withdrawal would provide "greater flexibility to implement policies" in Argentina's interests and "greater availability of resources."

Following Trump's footsteps

Similarly to Milei, Trump has criticized the United Nations' health agency in the past. On Jan. 20, he signed an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the organization, citing a mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its "inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states" as reasons for leaving.

Although Trump's executive action paused any funding, support or resources for the WHO, it takes a year to fully withdraw from the organization, and as reported by CNN, there is an obligation for the U.S. to continue funding it for a year.