Health Cooperation Without the WHO

Given concerns about the impact of the withdrawal on the global response to future pandemics, the Trump administration assured that the United States will continue to collaborate directly with other countries and their health ministries.

“We will continue to develop bilateral relationships that are mutually beneficial and that respect the sovereignty of our country and that of other nations,” an official spokesperson stated.

The Legal Basis for Withdrawal and Unpaid Dues

When the WHO was created in 1948, the United States joined through a joint resolution of Congress that, unlike other member states, granted it the explicit right to withdraw from the organization. According to another US official, the resolution does not stipulate that the country must settle outstanding payments as a condition for its withdrawal. In that regard, the Trump administration reiterated that it has no intention of paying the installments corresponding to the 2024-2025 period, the amount of which is estimated at between $260 and $280 million.