Argentina has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), the country’s foreign minister confirmed, following a similar move by the United States earlier this year.
The decision comes under President Javier Milei’s government, which had announced plans to leave the WHO a year ago, citing dissatisfaction with the organization’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Argentina’s Foreign Ministry stated that the withdrawal process has now been completed in accordance with international treaty timelines.
Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said, “Argentina will continue to promote international cooperation in health through bilateral agreements and regional forums, while fully preserving its sovereignty and its ability to make independent decisions regarding health policies.”
He added that the country plans to remain engaged in global health initiatives outside the WHO framework, noting that Argentina had previously criticized the organization, claiming its recommendations “are ineffective because they are driven more by political interests than by science.”
The move mirrors the United States’ withdrawal, formalized by former President Donald Trump in January through an executive order. Historically, the WHO has played a central role in global health efforts, including eradicating smallpox and combating diseases such as polio, HIV, Ebola, and tuberculosis.
Earlier this year, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed deep regret over the U.S. withdrawal, warning that it could compromise both national and global health security.
