WHO Director-General Counters US Withdrawal Justification, Labels Criticism as Untrue
The head of the United Nations' health agency has firmly rejected the United States' stated reasons for withdrawing from the World Health Organization, dismissing Washington's criticism as "untrue". In a significant development, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a strong rebuttal on Sunday, directly challenging the rationale behind the US decision to formally exit the global health body.
WHO Chief Warns of Safety Implications Following US Withdrawal
Tedros emphasized that the US announcement this week regarding its formal withdrawal from WHO "makes both the US and the world less safe". Through a post on the social media platform X, he added: "Unfortunately, the reasons cited for the US decision to withdraw from WHO are untrue." The WHO leader insisted that the organization has consistently engaged with the United States and all member states while fully respecting their sovereignty.
The controversy stems from a joint statement issued on Thursday by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announcing Washington's formal withdrawal from WHO. The American officials accused the agency of multiple failures during the Covid-19 pandemic and alleged that it had repeatedly acted against US interests. They claimed WHO had "trashed and tarnished" the United States and compromised its independence.
WHO Issues Comprehensive Rebuttal to US Allegations
In response, WHO issued a statement asserting: "The reverse is true. As we do with every Member State, WHO has always sought to engage with the United States in good faith." The agency strenuously rejected accusations from Rubio and Kennedy that its Covid-19 response had obstructed timely information sharing that could have saved American lives and concealed failures.
Kennedy further suggested in a video posted to X on Friday that WHO bore responsibility for Americans who died alone in nursing homes and small businesses destroyed by mask and vaccine mandates. He insisted the withdrawal was about protecting American sovereignty and returning public health decisions to the American people.
WHO Clarifies Pandemic Response Actions and Recommendations
Tedros countered that the US statement contained inaccurate information, stating: "Throughout the pandemic, WHO acted quickly, shared all information it had rapidly and transparently with the world, and advised Member States on the basis of the best available evidence." The agency clarified its position on several key points:
- WHO recommended the use of masks, vaccines, and physical distancing
- The organization never recommended mask mandates, vaccine mandates, or lockdowns
- WHO supported sovereign governments in making decisions they believed served their people's best interests
The agency emphasized: "We supported sovereign governments to make decisions they believed were in the best interests of their people, but the decisions were theirs."
Financial Dispute Complicates Withdrawal Process
The withdrawal process reached completion on Thursday, one year after former US President Donald Trump signed an executive order initiating the separation. However, Kennedy and Rubio expressed regret that WHO had not approved the withdrawal and claimed the agency was demanding compensation.
WHO highlighted that when the United States joined the organization in 1948, it reserved the right to withdraw provided it gave one year's notice and met all financial obligations for the current fiscal year. The current dispute centers on Washington's failure to pay its 2024 and 2025 dues, leaving the US approximately $260 million in arrears.
WHO stated on Saturday: "The notification of withdrawal raises issues," adding that the matter would be examined during WHO's Executive Board meeting next month and the annual World Health Assembly meeting in May.
WHO Expresses Hope for Future US Re-engagement
Tedros expressed optimism about potential future cooperation, stating: "We hope the US will return to active participation in WHO in the future. Meanwhile, WHO remains steadfastly committed to working with all countries in pursuit of its core mission and constitutional mandate: the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental right for all people."
The WHO has not yet confirmed that the US withdrawal has taken full effect, leaving the international health community watching closely as this significant geopolitical health development continues to unfold.
