Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Argentina’s health minister have announced plans for a new global health organization after both nations formally withdraw from the WHO, citing its catastrophic handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and undue influence from China and pharmaceutical interests.
Key Takeaways
- The United States and Argentina have both officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), citing its poor handling of the COVID-19 pandemic
- U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Argentine Health Minister Mario Lugones are collaborating to create a new global health organization focused on scientific integrity and transparency
- Both nations criticized the WHO for being driven by political interests rather than science, with concerns about undue influence from China and pharmaceutical companies
- The alternative international health system will prioritize national sovereignty, accountability, and evidence-based approaches to global health challenges
- This initiative comes after President Trump ordered the U.S. exit from the WHO during his second term
Breaking Away from the WHO
In a decisive move that reshapes the landscape of global health governance, the United States and Argentina have formally confirmed their withdrawal from the World Health Organization. The parallel decisions, championed by President Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei, mark the beginning of a significant shift in how these nations will address international health challenges. The withdrawal follows years of mounting criticism regarding the WHO’s effectiveness, particularly its response during the COVID-19 pandemic, which both countries have characterized as deeply flawed and compromised by political interests.
Argentina had initially announced its intention to leave the WHO in February, with the Milei administration delivering a scathing assessment of the organization’s performance. “The WHO’s prescriptions do not work because they are not based on science but on political interests and bureaucratic structures that refuse to review their own mistakes,” Stated Argentina’s government in their official announcement.
The coordinated exit reflects a shared view that the WHO has failed in its core mission. President Trump, who had previously criticized the organization during his first term, made the withdrawal a priority in his second administration, pointing to both the financial burden on American taxpayers and concerns about Chinese influence over the organization’s policies and decisions.
Building a New Global Health Framework
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. traveled to Buenos Aires for meetings with Argentine officials, including President Milei and Health Minister Mario Lugones, to solidify plans for creating an alternative international health system. The collaboration aims to establish a framework grounded in principles that both nations believe the WHO has abandoned: scientific integrity, transparency, national sovereignty, and rigorous accountability.
“Together with Robert Kennedy, we believe in the future of collaboration in global health. We have similar visions about the path forward,” Said Mario Lugones, Argentina’s Health Minister.
During their joint press conference, Kennedy and Lugones detailed their shared assessment of the WHO’s failures, highlighting what they described as “structural and operational shortcomings that undermined global trust and highlighted the urgent need for independent, science-based leadership in global health.” This critique forms the foundation for their alternative vision – a global health organization that prioritizes evidence over politics and national interests over international bureaucracy.
Addressing WHO’s Pandemic Response Failures
Kennedy, who has long been critical of pharmaceutical industry influence on health policy, explicitly challenged the WHO’s COVID-19 pandemic management. His appointment as Health Secretary signaled President Trump’s commitment to dramatically reshaping America’s approach to public health. Kennedy has encouraged other nations to follow the U.S. and Argentina’s lead, suggesting that the WHO has been compromised by external influences including China, gender ideology advocates, and pharmaceutical corporations.
“Withdrawal marks the beginning of a new path – toward building a modern global health cooperation model grounded in scientific integrity, transparency, sovereignty, and accountability,” Stated Kennedy and Lugones in their joint declaration.
The pandemic response has been central to both nations’ critiques. Argentina’s health ministry has announced plans for a “structural review” of its national health agencies to improve organization and transparency – a domestic parallel to the international reform they seek. This review will examine how Argentina’s own health infrastructure failed during the pandemic and identify changes needed to prevent similar failures in future crises.
International Implications and Future Prospects
The withdrawal of two significant nations from the WHO raises questions about the future of global health coordination. The United States, as the organization’s largest financial contributor, leaves a substantial funding gap. Meanwhile, the creation of an alternative system poses a direct challenge to the WHO’s authority and could potentially attract other nations dissatisfied with the current international health framework.
Reports indicate that the Trump administration had initially considered conditions under which the U.S. might have remained in the WHO, including the appointment of an American director-general and substantial reforms to the organization’s governance. However, these proposals were ultimately rejected in favor of a complete withdrawal and the creation of a new body that aligns with American and Argentine priorities for health sovereignty.
As Kennedy and Lugones begin the work of establishing their alternative international health system, they face significant challenges in building global credibility and attracting additional member nations. Their success will depend largely on demonstrating that their new organization can effectively address international health emergencies while respecting the principles of national sovereignty and scientific integrity that they claim the WHO has abandoned.
