U.S. Exit from WHO Approaching, Tedros Issues Statement

WHO Director-General Tedros addressed the U.S. decision to formally withdraw from the WHO on January 13, stating that this move would threaten public health security in both the U.S. and globally.

Tedros emphasized during a press conference in Geneva that the U.S. withdrawal would not only be a loss for itself but also weaken the global health defense. He clearly stated, "Leaving will result in neither the U.S. nor other countries being safe," as the U.S. would lose direct access to WHO's global pandemic monitoring network (such as the GOARN system) and emergency response systems, making it unable to independently address transnational infectious disease threats.

Direct Appeal to the U.S.

Tedros pointed out that WHO's vaccine development collaboration and disease early warning efforts actually benefit the U.S., saying, "Without cooperating with the WHO, the U.S. cannot ensure its own safety." He called on the U.S. to return to the multilateral framework and emphasized that funding issues can be resolved through reform, but "cooperation is about the common security of humanity."

Trump signed an executive order to withdraw on January 20, 2025, and the United Nations received notification the following day, January 22, 2025. According to WHO regulations, the official withdrawal date is January 22, 2026.

The U.S. has yet to pay its dues for 2024-2025, approximately $130 million, and WHO legal advisors have questioned the legality of its withdrawal process.

Regarding Trump's withdrawal, public opinion analysis suggests it is political theater (to appeal to conservative voters) and part of the U.S. strategy of retrenchment—announcing the withdrawal from 66 international organizations at the same time, covering areas such as climate and human rights, reflecting a "America First" unilateralist tendency.

Go ahead and leave! Don't think that the Earth won't turn without the U.S. In fact, the opposite is true—the world doesn't need the U.S.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1854311476487180/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author alone.