Argentina has decided to leave the World Health Organization (WHO) because of disagreements over how the organization handled the COVID-19 pandemic.
This decision was announced on Wednesday by Manuel Adorni, the spokesman for President Javier Milei.
The move comes just two weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump, on the first day of his second term, announced that the United States would also withdraw from the WHO.
Like Trump, Milei’s government believes that the WHO did not manage the pandemic properly and interfered too much in national policies.
“President Javier Milei has instructed Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein to begin the process of withdrawing Argentina from the WHO,” Adorni said at a press conference.
He explained that the government does not agree with how the WHO responded to the pandemic and does not want international organizations to interfere in Argentina’s decisions, especially regarding health policies.
“We Argentines will not allow an international organization to interfere with our sovereignty and certainly not with our health,” Adorni added.
During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Argentina enforced some of the strictest lockdown measures in the world.
People were only allowed to leave their homes for essential shopping, medical visits, or emergencies.
These restrictions lasted longer in Argentina than in many other countries.
Milei, a right-wing populist, became president in December 2024. Since taking office, he has pushed for major changes in Argentina’s policies, including reducing government spending and challenging international organizations.
His decision to leave the WHO is part of his larger plan to give Argentina more independence from global institutions.
This withdrawal may have significant consequences for Argentina’s healthcare system, as the WHO provides guidance, medical resources, and global health support.
However, Milei’s government believes Argentina can manage its healthcare policies without WHO involvement. It remains to be seen how this decision will affect the country’s public health and its relationship with the international community.
