Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, has announced the country’s decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) citing “profound differences” with the U.N. agency, similar to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision earlier this year. Milei criticized WHO guidelines during the Covid-19 pandemic, saying they led to harmful shutdowns. The country’s withdrawal is not expected to greatly impact WHO’s budget, as Argentina only contributed about $8 million to the agency’s estimated $6.9 billion budget. The decision reflects Argentina’s commitment to maintaining sovereignty, especially in health matters. Milei has been a vocal critic of lockdowns imposed during the pandemic, arguing they harm the economy and are used as a form of repression.
Despite Argentina’s withdrawal, WHO stated it is looking into the decision. The country does not rely on WHO funding for health management, so the president’s decision is not expected to impact the quality of health services. Milei’s government had also previously refused to sign an agreement to manage pandemics within the WHO framework due to concerns about national sovereignty. The announcement comes ahead of Milei’s trip to the U.S. where he may attend a summit of right-wing leaders in Washington, potentially meeting with Trump. The decision to withdraw from WHO highlights Milei’s commitment to preserving national sovereignty and implementing policies tailored to Argentina’s needs.
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