Argentina officially withdraws from the World Health Organization, US | World Health Organization News

Argentine President Javier Mille has criticized the World Health Organization for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Argentina has finalized its decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), following in the footsteps of the United States and formally severing ties with the global health organization.

On Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Pablo Quirno confirmed Argentina’s withdrawal from the international organization that monitors health trends, diagnoses disease, promotes access to health and trains medical providers.

Quirno explained that the move was first announced in February last year, and a month later, the government of right-wing President Javier Mille gave formal notice to the WHO.

“Today, Argentina’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) takes effect, marking one year since our country made its formal notification,” Quirno wrote in his social media post on Tuesday.

“Argentina will continue to promote international cooperation in health through bilateral agreements and regional forums, while fully preserving its sovereignty and ability to make decisions about health policies.”

Miley’s decision to pull Argentina out of the WHO echoes a similar decision made under her far-right ally, US President Donald Trump.

Both leaders lashed out at international organizations for pursuing progressive policies in areas such as health and medicine.

Last year’s announcement that Argentina would withdraw from the World Health Organization came nearly a month after Trump made a nearly identical move.

In a statement at the time, Libertarian Miley blasted the organization for its health advice during the Covid-19 pandemic. Measures to limit the spread of the virus, such as concealment, social distancing and vaccinations, are a common target of right-wing ire in countries around the world.

In a social media post, Miley accused the WHO of being a “vile organization” that implemented the “greatest experiment in social control in history”, referring to the COVID safety measures.

However, WHO is largely an advisory body and does not dictate policies to member countries.

As of Tuesday, the organization listed 194 members, including Argentina, on its website.

The US formalized its withdrawal in January for similar reasons, a decision WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus regretted.

“Unfortunately, the reasons cited for the US decision to withdraw from the WHO are false,” Ghebreyesus said in a social media post at the time.

“Notification of Withdrawal Makes US and World Less Safe.”