Washington, Jan. 23 (SANA) The United States formally withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday, implementing a decision signed by President Donald Trump on January 8 to exit dozens of international organizations and agreements the White House has described as ineffective and financially burdensome.
According to ABC News, the American flag was removed from WHO headquarters in Geneva following the completion of administrative procedures, leaving the UN agency without its largest donor. The move is part of a broader pattern of U.S. withdrawals from international bodies in recent weeks.
Trump defended the decision, citing what he called “unbalanced commitments” that fail to deliver tangible results or serve U.S. interests. While insisting that Washington does not oppose international cooperation, he described such frameworks as “wasteful and ineffective.”
Officials from the Departments of Health and Human Services and State confirmed that U.S. engagement in global health will remain limited, with Washington opting to work directly with individual countries rather than through international organizations. The withdrawal has triggered a significant financial crisis for WHO, as the U.S. has not paid its dues for 2024 and 2025, estimated at $260 million.
Although U.S. law requires one year’s notice and payment of outstanding contributions before withdrawal, the State Department denied any legal obligation to settle the debt.
Beyond WHO, Washington has also withdrawn from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). NATO has also come under renewed scrutiny, following Trump’s criticism of member states for failing to meet the 2% GDP defense spending target, as well as disputes over issues such as Greenland.
These developments have fueled uncertainty over the future of international alliances and raised questions about the durability of the transatlantic partnership.
