The United States will leave the World Health Organization on January 22, 2026, the United Nations announced on Thursday, after being officially informed of the decision by US President Donald Trump, who accused the mismanagement agency of the pandemic and other international health crises. .
Trump announced this decision on Monday, a few hours after taking an oath for a second four -year term. The WHO said on Tuesday that it regretted the decision of its main donor country.
Trump must give a notice of one year before the removal of the United States of the organization based in Geneva and pay the contribution of Washington under a joint resolution of the US Congress of 1948.
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The United States is by far the largest WHO funder, contributing to around 18 percent to its overall funding. The most recent biennial budget of WHO, for 2024-2025, amounted to $ 6.8 billion. It was not immediately how much the United States had to.
“I can confirm that we have now received the United States letter concerning the withdrawal of the WHO. It is dated January 22, 2025. It would come into force in a year from yesterday, January 22, 2026, “said UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq.
The departure of the United States will probably endanger the programs of the entire organization, according to several experts inside and outside the WHO, especially those who fight against tuberculosis, the biggest disease Deadly infectious in the world, as well as against HIV/AIDS and other health emergencies.
The order of withdrawal signed by Trump indicates that the administration will cease negotiations on the WHO Treaty on the pandemic while the withdrawal is underway. The staff of the US government working with WHO will be recalled and reassured, and the government will seek partners to use the necessary WHO activities, according to order.
WHO Trump’s withdrawal was not unexpected. He took measures to leave the organization in 2020, during his first mandate as president. Before the American withdrawal could be completed the last time, Joe Biden won the presidential election and put an end to it from his first day in mandate on January 20, 2021.
