Milei announces Argentina will withdraw from WHO, copying Trump
3 Min Read
The Argentinian president cited the WHO's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason for leaving, calling the WHO the "executing arm of what was the largest social-control experiment in history."
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Argentina's President Javier Milei talks at the Marketing Leaders Association in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Friday, December 6, 2024. (AP)
Argentina will be leaving the World Health Organization (WHO), Argentinian President Javier Milei announced, following in the footsteps of Donald Trump who signed an executive order revoking the United States' membership in the WHO.
Milei cited the WHO's mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, echoing Trump's reasoning for pulling out of the global organization, adding, "We have decided to leave such a harmful organization, which was the executing arm of what was the largest social-control experiment in history."
The decision has drawn nationwide criticisms from opposition and allies to Milei, who said that such a decision was not his to make, as it would require congressional approval since the relation between Argentina and the WHO is coded in law.
"Health coordination policies are essential in the pandemic periods we are experiencing... It is not a question of being in this or that, but rather coordination is necessary and we have not yet heard what the health coordination proposal is that we are going to have going forward,” the health minister of Buenos Aires commented.
Argentinian Health Organizations have stressed that withdrawing from the international organization could impact funds that would aid in the purchase of important medical equipment and supplies.
The Argentinian exit from the WHO deprives the country of technical assistance privileges and resources for health emergencies and financial aid for health crises, according to constitutional lawyer Andrés Gil Domínguez.
Trump and Milei's relationship
Milei and Trump have a special relationship, and this is not the first time the Argentinian president has mirrored his American counterpart, whether in policy or opinions.
The Argentinian president shares Trump's skepticism of climate change, which formed part of his campaign, saying that "policies that blame humans for climate change are wrong." Argentina has previously pulled out from UN Climate Talks, sparking fears of withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, just like Trump did.
Elon Musk is also a common interest between Trump and Milei, with Milei calling him the Thomas Edison of the 21st century, while Musk praised Milei's economic policies, declaring them an improvement for Argentina's economy.
Additionally, Milei shares Trump's staunch support for "Israel", going as far as moving the Argentinian embassy from Tel Aviv to occupied al-Quds, effectively recognizing the latter as the capital of "Israel".
