The United States and Argentina have joined forces to create a new global health authority that rejects the WHO’s politicized approach, focusing instead on scientific integrity and national sovereignty.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Argentine Health Minister Mario Lugones have announced a joint initiative to establish a new global health authority following both nations’ withdrawal from the WHO.
- Both countries cited the WHO’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, political bias, and lack of transparency as primary reasons for departure.
- The new health authority will prioritize scientific integrity, evidence-based strategies, and national sovereignty in addressing global health emergencies.
- Argentina’s President Javier Milei has criticized the WHO for being driven by political interests rather than science, echoing President Trump’s concerns about undue Chinese influence.
- This initiative represents a significant shift in global health governance, potentially attracting other nations dissatisfied with the WHO’s performance.
A Bold Rejection of WHO Leadership
In a significant diplomatic maneuver, the United States and Argentina have formally confirmed their withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), citing fundamental concerns about the organization’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its overall governance structure. The move follows President Trump’s executive order directing the U.S. to exit the WHO and aligns with Argentine President Javier Milei’s February announcement of his country’s departure. Both nations have expressed deep concerns about the WHO’s effectiveness, transparency, and political neutrality in managing global health crises.
“The WHO’s prescriptions do not work because they are not based on science but on political interests and bureaucratic structures that refuse to review their own mistakes,” According to Argentina’s government
During a high-profile meeting in Buenos Aires, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Argentine Health Minister Mario Lugones issued a joint statement highlighting the “structural and operational shortcomings” of the WHO that “undermined global trust” during the pandemic. This unprecedented collaboration between the U.S. and Argentina signals a fundamental shift in global health governance, with both nations seeking to create an alternative framework that better serves their citizens and respects national sovereignty.
Building a Science-Based Alternative
The proposed new global health authority represents a direct challenge to the WHO’s dominance in international health coordination. According to Kennedy and Lugones, this withdrawal “marks the beginning of a new path – toward building a modern global health cooperation model grounded in scientific integrity, transparency, sovereignty, and accountability.” Unlike the WHO, which both officials claim has been unduly influenced by pharmaceutical industry interests and Chinese government pressure, the new authority will prioritize evidence-based approaches and maintain independence from political agendas.
“Together with Robert Kennedy, we believe in the future of collaboration in global health. We have similar visions about the path forward,” Stated Mario Lugones, Argentine Health Minister
Kennedy, who has long been critical of pharmaceutical industry influence on public health policy, met directly with President Milei to discuss the “creation of an alternative international health system.” The Trump administration had previously considered remaining in the WHO if substantial reforms were implemented, including the appointment of a U.S. director-general, but ultimately determined that creating a new institution would better serve American interests and global health objectives. This decision reflects President Trump’s commitment to challenging international organizations that fail to deliver results proportionate to U.S. financial contributions.
National Reforms and International Implications
As part of this initiative, Argentina has announced plans for a comprehensive “structural review” of its national health agencies, focusing on improving organization and transparency. This internal reform process will complement the international effort to establish new health governance structures. Minister Lugones emphasized that these domestic changes would align with the joint U.S.-Argentina agenda to restore public trust in health institutions and ensure that policy decisions are based on scientific evidence rather than political considerations.
“Withdrawal marks the beginning of a new path – toward building a modern global health cooperation model grounded in scientific integrity, transparency, sovereignty, and accountability,” Stated Kennedy and Lugones
The establishment of this new global health authority could potentially attract other nations dissatisfied with the WHO’s performance. Kennedy has openly encouraged other countries to follow the U.S. and Argentina in leaving the organization, arguing that the WHO has been compromised by “gender ideology” and other political influences that distract from its core public health mission. With two significant nations now committed to developing an alternative framework, the global health landscape appears poised for its most substantial restructuring since the WHO’s founding in 1948.
