The United States has officially announced its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), a move that was first announced by President Donald Trump during his election campaign. Trump has repeatedly criticized the WHO, citing its slow response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its alleged close ties to China.
According to the White House, the decision to leave the WHO was made because the organization has failed to reform and is not independent from the political influence of its member states. The US also claims that the WHO has been unfair in its financial demands, with China, for example, paying less than 10% of what the US pays despite having a much larger population.
The US has been a major funder of the WHO, providing around $1.28 billion in the past two years. Germany is the second-largest contributor, with the German government providing over $600 million in 2021.
The withdrawal process is expected to take a year, as per the terms of the US’s original membership agreement with the WHO in 1948. The move is a reversal of a previous decision made by Trump in his first term, which was later reversed by President Joe Biden.