Argentina Finalises WHO Exit as Milei Aligns with Trump’s Global Stance

Argentina has now formally completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, closing a year-long process that reflects a broader political shift under President Javier Milei and places the country in step with a similar move by the United States.

Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno confirmed on Tuesday that the decision has taken effect, marking the end of Argentina’s participation in the global health body.

“Today, Argentina’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) takes effect, marking one year since the formal notification was made by our country,” Quirno wrote.

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

The withdrawal was first announced in February last year, with formal notice submitted a month later. Since then, the move has remained consistent with the government’s broader positioning — sceptical of international institutions and focused on national decision-making authority.

Milei’s stance closely mirrors that of US President Donald Trump, who also pushed to withdraw from the WHO. Both leaders have criticised global organisations, particularly over what they describe as the promotion of progressive policies in areas such as public health.

In Argentina’s case, the WHO’s role during the COVID-19 pandemic became a central point of contention. Measures such as masking, social distancing and vaccination campaigns were framed by Milei as excessive state intervention.

In a social media post, he described the organisation as a “nefarious organization” that carried out “the greatest experiment in social control in history”.

The WHO, however, operates primarily as an advisory body. It tracks global health trends, coordinates responses to disease outbreaks and provides guidance to member states, but it does not impose policies.

Even so, the decision to withdraw signals a clear political message. It prioritises sovereignty over multilateral coordination, particularly in areas where global standards and national policies intersect.

The United States completed its own withdrawal earlier this year, drawing criticism from WHO leadership. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus responded at the time by disputing the rationale behind Washington’s move.

“Unfortunately, the reasons cited for the US decision to withdraw from WHO are untrue,” he said.

“The notification of withdrawal makes both the US and the world less safe.”