German media: The United States officially withdraws from the World Health Organization (WHO)

On the first day of his second term, US President Trump signed an executive order to initiate the procedure for the United States to withdraw from the WHO. US experts criticized that if the US gives up its leadership and withdraws from the WHO, it will only increase China's influence, not reduce it.

The United States officially withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO). A year ago, President Trump announced the termination of the US' 78-year commitment to this health organization.

He signed an executive order on the first day of his 2025 term, notifying the United Nations health agency. After that, the US waited a year to finally complete the withdrawal process.

This president listed "inadequate handling of the pandemic" and "other global health crises" as reasons for the withdrawal. He also said the US was required to pay "unfairly large fees".

US Secretary of State Rubio and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issued a joint statement on Thursday, January 22, saying: "Today, the United States has withdrawn from the World Health Organization, freeing itself from its constraints."

Dispute over unpaid fees

The withdrawal from Washington was not smooth. According to the WHO, the US owes the organization more than $130 million. However, there is still a dispute over the amount of the debt.

A WHO spokesperson said that member states will discuss the US' withdrawal and how to respond at the WHO Executive Board meeting in February.

US government officials also admitted that some issues remain unresolved, such as the possible inability to access public health data from other countries, which could have helped the US detect new outbreaks earlier.

Over the past year, many global health experts have urged the US to reconsider its decision to withdraw from the WHO, including WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

"I hope the United States will reconsider and rejoin the WHO," Tedros said at a press conference at the beginning of the month, "leaving the WHO is a loss for the United States and a loss for other countries around the world."

Source: DW

Original: toutiao.com/article/1855204935482377/

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