Argentina has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), according to its foreign minister.
The decision follows a similar move by the United States, which also left the global health body earlier this year, raising concerns about the future of international health cooperation.
President Javier Milei’s government had announced plans to exit the WHO about a year ago. The administration strongly criticized how the organization handled the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that some of its recommendations were influenced by politics rather than science.
Argentina’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the withdrawal process has now been completed in line with international agreements and within the required timeframe.
Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said the country will continue to cooperate with other nations on health issues through bilateral partnerships and regional organizations. However, he emphasized that Argentina wants to fully control its own public health decisions without external influence.
The government has repeatedly stated that leaving the WHO does not mean abandoning global health efforts. Instead, it plans to pursue independent strategies that better reflect national priorities and local conditions.
The United States formally completed its own withdrawal in January after President Donald Trump signed an order to exit the organization following his return to office.
The WHO has historically played a key role in tackling global health challenges, including diseases such as polio, HIV, Ebola, and tuberculosis. It also led the successful effort to eliminate smallpox worldwide.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern about the withdrawals, warning that reduced cooperation could weaken global responses to future health emergencies and make the world less prepared for new outbreaks.
