Argentina is set to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), following an executive decision by President Javier Milei, a move that mirrors President Donald Trump's earlier exit from the global health agency.

A presidential spokesperson confirmed the decision on Wednesday, citing "deep differences" over the WHO's management of health issues, particularly its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Milei ordered the withdrawal due to concerns over the prolonged lockdown measures imposed by the previous leftist government and what he described as a "lack of independence from the political influence of other states." 

The move comes in the wake of President Trump’s executive order, issued on his first day in office on January 20, to pull the United States out of the WHO. Trump had accused the organization of mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic and other international health crises, arguing that it demanded "unfairly onerous" payments from the United States, its largest contributor.

President Milei echoed similar criticisms of the WHO. The Argentine administration has argued that the global health agency’s policies and operational independence are compromised by external political pressures, thus necessitating the withdrawal.

As Argentina prepares to formally exit the WHO, questions remain regarding the future of its participation in international health initiatives and the potential implications for global health governance. The Argentine government has yet to announce a timeline for its withdrawal, but the decision marks a significant shift in the country’s approach to international cooperation on health issues. (ILKHA)