World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has publicly challenged the United States' rationale for withdrawing from the global health body, calling recent claims by U.S. officials "untrue" in a Saturday social media statement. The dispute comes as Washington finalizes its exit from the WHO amid unresolved financial obligations exceeding $278 million.
Diplomatic Clash Intensifies
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the completed withdrawal on Thursday, citing the WHO's "repeated failures" during the COVID-19 pandemic and alleged anti-American bias. Tedros countered that the decision "makes both the U.S. and the world less safe," emphasizing the WHO's commitment to sovereign equality among all 194 member states.
Financial Standoff Continues
WHO officials confirm the U.S. has not paid its 2024-2025 biennial contributions, despite contractual obligations requiring settlement before withdrawal. The unpaid dues complicate procedural requirements for departure, with the organization planning to address the matter at February's Executive Board meeting and May's World Health Assembly.
Global Health Implications
Public health experts warn the withdrawal could hinder international vaccine coordination and pandemic response systems. Tedros reaffirmed the WHO's commitment to universal health equity, stating: "Our constitutional mandate remains unchanged – health as a fundamental right for all people, regardless of political developments."
