Deep differences have been cited as the reason for Argentina’s planned withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), announced by a presidential spokesperson on Wednesday, as reported by Reuters, a global news agency.
This decision follows a similar move by US President Donald Trump’s executive order last month to exit the global health agency.
Trump, with whom Argentina’s libertarian President Javier Milei is considered a close ally, initiated United States’ withdrawal on their first day in office, January 20th.
Argentina’s withdrawal, according to presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni, is due to “deep differences” regarding the WHO’s management of health issues, particularly concerning the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adorni referenced Argentina’s extended lockdown period under the previous leftist government as a key point of contention. He also cited “a lack of independence from the political influence of other states” as a contributing factor.
Trump similarly asserted that the WHO had mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic and other international health crises.
