WHO Executive Board Sidesteps US Declaration to Withdraw from Organization

Geneva. The Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday disregarded the United States' announcement to withdraw from the WHO.

The Executive Board, which makes final decisions on any WHO matter, is expected to suggest to the annual meeting of member states in May whether to approve the withdrawal decisions of the US and Argentina from the organization.

US President Donald Trump had submitted a notice to withdraw from the WHO for one year on his first day in office in January 2025. Argentina followed suit in March.

Among the 34 board members of the body, only the US ally Israel took a firm stance in favor of Washington's withdrawal, but no decision was made on this matter at the latest board meeting held on Friday at the WHO headquarters in Geneva.

Israeli Ambassador to Geneva, Daniel Meron, stated, "America's withdrawal will be effective from January 22."

Meron argued, "Any attempt to force member states to decide against their national decisions is a violation of their sovereign rights. There is no valid reason to discuss this issue further in any WHO forum."

China, which is not on the board, expressed surprise that many board members decided to 'remain silent' on this issue.

"I can believe that we are witnessing history right now," said Beijing's representative to the WHO.

Major countries should lead by example and the WHO 'should not be treated as a decision to be used when it suits the organization' and should be abandoned when exemplary leadership is not possible.

He said, "Members cannot enter and exit as they wish."

The WHO charter does not include a withdrawal clause, but the United States reserved the right to withdraw upon joining the WHO in 1948, on the condition of giving one year's notice and fully meeting its financial obligations for that fiscal year.

The notice period has now expired, but Washington has yet to pay its outstanding dues of $260 million for 2024 and 2025.

Before announcing its withdrawal, the United States was traditionally the largest donor to the WHO, which provides technical advice and guidance based on scientific evidence to help governments make health policy decisions.

Argentina to 'respect' the rules

The WHO's decision-making body, the Executive Board, sets the agenda for the annual World Health Assembly of member states.

Argentina and Israel submitted a draft resolution to the board recommending that the Assembly approve Buenos Aires' withdrawal.

Although some countries expressed regret over Argentina's decision, the draft was passed without objection.

"We will not be alone," said Argentine Ambassador Carlos Mario Foradori, "leaving this organization is not leaving the world."

He further stated, "We will continue to respect all rules."

"Disasters do not recognize borders, and we will respect the rules that are in the interest of the world," he said.

Last January, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed that the WHO had discredited and dirtied all the work it had done for the US.

"The exact opposite is true," the WHO countered the US officials' statement.

The American flag that was placed outside the WHO headquarters has been removed.

The US Mission in Geneva stated last month that the flag was dedicated to Americans who lost their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic and that the US was in the process of withdrawing from the organization.

In January, the WHO stated that Washington's decision to withdraw was dangerous for the US and the rest of the world.

"A lot of work is done through the WHO, especially on global health security issues like combating pandemics, which benefits the US," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.