Argentina will exit the World Health Organization (WHO), President Javier Milei’s office announced Wednesday, citing “profound differences” with the UN agency.
The decision follows the United States’ withdrawal from the WHO last month, a move driven by US President Donald Trump’s dissatisfaction with the agency’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni said Argentina rejects “international interference” in its health policies and aims to implement “locally adapted” measures with “greater flexibility and resource availability.”
Milei, a self-proclaimed “anarcho-capitalist” and Trump ally, has been pushing austerity measures to curb government spending. While his policies have triggered economic hardship for millions, Argentina recorded its largest-ever trade surplus in 2024 due to reduced imports and expenditures.
Milei was also the first world leader to visit Trump at his Florida estate after the Republican’s election victory in November. The US withdrawal from WHO has raised concerns over potential funding shortfalls for global health initiatives.
