The United Nations said on Thursday that the United States will withdraw from the World Health Organization on January 22, 2026, after it was officially notified of the decision by US President Donald Trump, who accused the agency of misunderstanding the epidemic and other international health crises. .
Trump announced this step on Monday, hours after he was sworn in for a second term of four years. The World Health Organization said on Tuesday that it regretted the step taken by its largest donor.
Trump must submit a single -year notice of the American withdrawal from the Geneva -based organization, and pay the fees due to Washington under a joint decision of the American Congress in 1948.
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The United States is largely the largest financial supporter of the World Health Organization, as it contributes about 18 percent of its total financing. The latest World Health Organization budget for the two years, 2024-2025, 6.8 billion dollars. It was not immediately clear the size of the debts that the United States owes.
“I can confirm that we have now received the American message about the withdrawal of the World Health Organization.” Farhan Haq, a deputy spokesman for the United Nations said: “It is dated January 22, 2025. It will enter into force after a year of yesterday, on January 22, 2026.”
The departure of the United States is likely to put programs throughout the organization, according to many experts within and outside the World Health Organization, especially those that treat tuberculosis, which is the largest fatal infectious disease in the world, in addition to HIV/AIDS and emergency viruses Other health.
The Trump’s withdrawal order said that the administration will stop negotiations on the World Health Organization Treaty during the withdrawal. The US government employees working with the World Health Organization will be called and the government will search for partners to assume the necessary activities for the World Health Organization, according to the matter.
Trump’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization was not unexpected. He took steps to withdraw from the commission in 2020 during his first term as president. Before the American withdrawal was completed last time, Joe Biden won the presidential elections and stopped it on his first day in his post on January 20, 2021.
