US moves to withdraw from the WHO

Special Desk

What US president Donald Trump had indicated a month back got a formal move, to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The US president had made his intentions clear in late May, accusing the WHO of being under China’s control during the coronavirus pandemic. And despite calls from the EU and others, Trump has said he would pull out of the UN agency and redirect funds elsewhere.

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The US has been claiming it is the biggest funder to the WHO and also that the WHO mislead the US over the COVID-19, which made it difficult for the US to take timely actions. He has now notified the UN and Congress of his intentions, although the process could take at least a year, but this will be a big jerk to the WHO.

The US is the global health agency’s largest single contributor, providing more than $400m in 2019, around 15% of its total budget.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, confirmed the US had notified it of its withdrawal, effective as of 6 July 2021. Senator Robert Menendez, the leading Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, also wrote on Twitter, “Congress received notification that POTUS officially withdrew the US from the WHO in the midst of a pandemic.

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A senior US administration official told news persons that Washington had detailed the reforms that it wanted the WHO to make and engaged with it directly, but that the WHO had refused to act. “Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship,” the official was quoted as saying.

But there are other versions too in the country. Joe Biden, who will challenge Donald Trump in the November presidential election, tweeted, “On my first day as President, I will rejoin the WHO and restore our leadership on the world stage.”

Under a Congress resolution in 1948, the US can withdraw but must give a year’s notice and should pay outstanding fees.