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US To Sever Ties With WHO As Trump Signs Withdrawal Order

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President Donald Trump formally signed an executive order on Monday, instructing the United States to sever ties with the World Health Organization. The decision comes after months of sharp rebukes from Trump over the organization’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, which he has frequently condemned.

Shortly after his inauguration, Trump addressed the press at the White House, criticizing the financial contributions of the United States to the World Health Organization (WHO). Comparing the U.S. payments to those of China, he remarked, “World Health ripped us off,” signaling his dissatisfaction with the organization’s funding dynamics.

The United States, as the World Health Organization’s most significant contributor, plays a critical role in sustaining the operations of the Geneva-based agency through its substantial financial donations.

Pulling out is likely to initiate a profound reorganization of the institution, with potential repercussions for international health initiatives. This decision, which represents Trump’s second effort to distance the U.S. from the WHO, highlights his administration’s ongoing skepticism towards the body.

During his first term, the United States issued a notice of intent to withdraw, accusing the organization of being overly influenced by China during the pandemic’s early stages.

That move was later reversed under former president Joe Biden’s administration.

Read also: We’ll Tax Foreign Countries To Enrich Americans – Trump

In his new executive order, Trump directed agencies to “pause the future transfer of any United States Government funds, support, or resources to the WHO” and to “identify credible and transparent United States and international partners to assume necessary activities previously undertaken by the WHO.”

The administration also announced plans to review and rescind Biden’s 2024 US Global Health Security Strategy, which was designed to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats, “as soon as practicable.”

The timing of the US withdrawal comes amid mounting fears over the pandemic potential of the current bird flu outbreak (H5N1), which has infected dozens and claimed one life in the United States.

Meanwhile, WHO member states have been negotiating the world’s first treaty on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response since late 2021 — negotiations now set to proceed without US participation.

The Eastern Updates 

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