BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Argentina’s president has ordered the nation’s withdrawal from the World Well being Group attributable to “profound variations” with the U.N. company, a presidential spokesperson mentioned Wednesday.
President Javier Milei’s determination echoes that of his ally, U.S. President Donald Trump, who started the method of pulling the US out of WHO with an government order on his first day again in workplace on Jan. 21.
The lack of one other member nation will additional fracture cooperation in world well being, although Argentina was anticipated to offer solely about $8 million to WHO for the company’s estimated $6.9 billion 2024-2025 price range.
Argentina’s determination relies on “profound variations in well being administration, particularly through the (COVID-19) pandemic,” spokesperson Manuel Adorni advised a information convention in Buenos Aires. He mentioned WHO pointers on the time led to the biggest shutdown “within the historical past of mankind.”
Argentina is not going to permit a global group to intervene in its sovereignty “and far much less in our well being,” he added.
WHO has no authority to compel nations to take particular well being actions, and the group’s pointers and proposals, together with in well being crises like COVID-19, are sometimes disregarded.
WHO mentioned it was trying into Argentina’s announcement.
Adorni didn’t say when Milei’s determination can be applied. He additionally asserted that WHO lacks independence due to the political affect of some nations, with out naming any.
WHO is the one group mandated to coordinate world responses to acute well being crises, notably outbreaks of latest illnesses and chronic threats together with Ebola, AIDS and mpox.
Milei was a pointy critic of the lockdown imposed by former President Alberto Fernandez through the pandemic, asserting that it damage the economic system and that the federal government used it as a mechanism of “repression.”
“LONG LIVE FREEDOM,” Milei mentioned Wednesday in a submit on X criticizing the U.N. company.
Argentina doesn’t obtain WHO funding for well being administration, and the president’s determination doesn’t have an effect on the standard of well being companies, Adorni mentioned.
“Quite the opposite, it offers better flexibility to implement insurance policies adopted to the context of pursuits that Argentina requires,” he added.
Final 12 months, Milei’s authorities refused to signal an settlement to handle pandemics throughout the WHO framework, on the grounds that doing so may have an effect on nationwide sovereignty.
The announcement on the WHO comes forward of Milei’s journey to the U.S. later this month that can coincide with the Conservative Political Motion Convention summit of right-wing leaders in Washington. The spokesperson has not confirmed that Milei will attend or that he would possibly meet Trump.
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Related Press author Maria Cheng in London contributed.