Argentina has decided to leave the World Health Organization (WHO) over disagreements regarding the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, announced a spokesperson for right-wing populist President Javier Milei on Wednesday.
This move follows a similar decision made by President Donald Trump, who recently announced on the first day of his second term that the United States would be exiting the UN health body.
“President Javier Milei has directed Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein to officially withdraw Argentina from the WHO,” stated government spokesperson Manuel Adorni during a press conference.
Adorni explained that, similar to the US, the Argentinean government has significant differences with the WHO’s approach to the Coronavirus crisis. “We Argentines will not allow an international organization to interfere with our sovereignty, especially when it comes to our health,” he asserted.
At the outset of the pandemic in 2020, Argentina implemented some of the strictest measures globally to control the virus’s spread. The country enforced extended curfews, and in certain instances, citizens were only permitted to leave their homes for essential activities such as shopping and medical appointments.
