Global Health Body Criticizes Nation's Exit from International Organization

The World Health Organization on Saturday warned that the nation’s withdrawal from the agency will reportedly make both the country and the world “less safe,” according to officials from the international health body.

The Geneva-based organization said in a January 24 statement that it “regrets the [country’s] notification of withdrawal from WHO – a decision that makes both [the nation] and the world less safe.” The statement added that the organization hopes “that in the future, [the country] will return to active participation in WHO.”

The withdrawal follows through on a campaign promise made by the head of state, who had criticized the organization’s handling of global health crises during his previous term. The nation announced its formal exit last week, with the leader having signed an executive order on his first day back in office.

“Today, [the country] withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO), freeing itself from its constraints, as [the leader] promised on his first day in office,” the foreign minister and health secretary said in a joint statement dated January 22, 2026.

The statement continued: “Going forward, [the nation’s] engagement with the WHO will be limited strictly to effectuate our withdrawal and to safeguard the health and safety of [the country’s] people. All funding for, and staffing of, WHO initiatives has ceased.”

Government officials claimed the WHO “pursued a politicized, bureaucratic agenda driven by nations hostile to [the country’s] interests,” according to the joint statement. The WHO disputed this characterization in its response.

“This is untrue. As a specialized agency of the United Nations, governed by 194 Member States, WHO has always been and remains impartial and exists to serve all countries, with respect for their sovereignty, and without fear or favor,” the organization said in its statement.

Observers note that the withdrawal represents a significant shift in the nation’s approach to multilateral health cooperation, potentially affecting global disease surveillance and response capabilities. The move continues the administration’s broader pattern of questioning international organizations and multilateral agreements, as seen in similar disputes with other global bodies.

The nation had been one of the WHO’s largest financial contributors, and its departure raises questions about funding gaps for global health initiatives, particularly in developing regions where the organization coordinates disease prevention and response efforts.