Argentina's president has announced that the country will withdraw from the World Health Organisation (WHO) due to significant disagreements with the UN agency, according to a statement from the president's spokesperson on Wednesday. President Javier Milei's decision is similar to the move made by his ally, US President Donald Trump, who started the process of pulling the United States out of the WHO with an executive order on his first day back in office on January 21.

The loss of another member will further splinter international health cooperation, even though Argentina was only supposed to contribute roughly USD 8 million toward WHO's projected $6.9 billion 2024–2025 budget. Losing another member country will weaken global health cooperation even more, although Argentina was expected to contribute just around USD 8 million to the WHO's total budget of $6.9 billion for 2024-2025.

At a news conference in Buenos Aires, spokesperson Manuel Adorni stated that Argentina's decision was founded on significant disparities in health management, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to him, the largest shutdown in human history was caused by WHO directives at the time. “Argentina will not allow an international organisation to intervene in its sovereignty and much less in our health,” he added.

The WHO does not have the power to force countries to take specific health actions. Its guidelines and recommendations, including during health crises like COVID-19, are often ignored by nations. WHO mentioned that it is reviewing Argentina's recent announcement. Adorni did not specify when Milei's decision would take effect. He also pointed out that WHO lacks full independence due to the political influence of certain countries, though he didn't name them.

Despite this, WHO is the only organisation with the responsibility to manage global responses to serious health crises, including outbreaks of new diseases and ongoing threats like Ebola, AIDS, and Mpox. Milei vehemently opposed the lockdown that previous President Alberto Fernandez enforced during the pandemic, claiming that it was a repressive measure employed by the government and that it had a negative economic impact.  

“LONG LIVE FREEDOM,” Milei said Wednesday in a post on X denouncing the UN agency. “Argentina does not receive WHO funding for health management, and the president's decision doesn't affect the quality of health services. On the contrary, it gives greater flexibility to implement policies adopted to the context of interests that Argentina requires,” he said. Milei's administration declined to sign a deal to manage pandemics under the WHO framework last year, citing concerns that it would compromise national sovereignty. The announcement from the WHO comes just before Milei’s visit to the US later this month, which will overlap with the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) summit in Washington, where right-wing leaders will gather. The spokesperson has not confirmed whether Milei will attend or if he might meet Trump.