Why does the withdrawal of the United States from the WHO, decreed by Donald Trump, cause “concern”?

Donald Trump signed, just after his inauguration on Monday, a decree aimed at withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), an organization that he had in the past strongly criticized for its management of the pandemic . “The WHO defrauded us,” accused the Republican, justifying this withdrawal by the gap in American and Chinese financial contributions. In this text, he urges federal agencies to “suspend the future transfer of any funds, support or resources from the United States government to the WHO” and directs them to “identify credible American and international partners” capable of “assume activities previously undertaken by WHO”.

• 2 The main donor less, a restructuring to come?

  The United States is the main donor and partner of this UN organization based in Geneva. According to the WHO, they contribute to its financing via a contribution indexed to their GDP, but also through voluntary contributions. Their departure from the organization is expected to trigger a significant restructuring of the institution and could harm global public health efforts, including surveillance and outbreak control. In particular, WHO plays a central coordinating role during global health emergencies.

  The decision to leave (the WHO) weakens America's influence, increases the risk of a deadly pandemic and makes us all more vulnerable

• 3 The end of privileged access to epidemic surveillance data

  “The decision to leave (the WHO) weakens America's influence, increases the risk of a deadly pandemic and makes us all more vulnerable,” criticized Tom Frieden, former senior health official under the Barack Obama administration. By withdrawing from the organization, the United States will lose privileged access to important epidemic surveillance data, several experts have warned. This could harm the capacity to monitor and prevent health threats from abroad.

• 4 The United States “at the back of the pack” for vaccines?

  American health agencies and pharmaceutical companies also depend on the WHO “to obtain the data necessary for the development of vaccines and therapies,” notes Lawrence Gostin, professor of public health law at Georgetown University. “Instead of being the first to receive vaccines, we will be at the back of the line. The withdrawal of the WHO inflicts a deep wound on the security of the United States and our competitive advantage in innovation,” he regretted on X.

  This withdrawal is all the more worrying as it comes at a time when the strong circulation of the avian flu virus in the United States is heightening fears of a next pandemic. At the beginning of January, the country recorded a first human death linked to the H5N1 virus.

  We hope that the United States will review its position and engage in constructive dialogue

  -

• 5 WHO “regrets” and wants “constructive dialogue”

  For its part, the WHO “regrets” this announcement. “We hope that the United States will review its position and engage in constructive dialogue for the sake of the health and well-being of millions of people around the world,” said Tarik Jasarevic, spokesperson for WHO, in Geneva, while the organization also published a reaction on health protection of the people of the world, “Americans included”, by “addressing the root causes of disease, building stronger health systems and detecting, preventing and responding to health emergencies, including epidemics”.

• 6 “Concern” from the EU, support from China

  The European Union evokes its “concern”: “We see with concern the announcements of withdrawal by the United States from the WHO. […] We are committed to cooperating with our American partners and we hope that this announcement is still under review,” said Eva Hrncirova, Commission health spokesperson, in Brussels.

  The role of WHO must be strengthened, not weakened. […] China, as it always has, will support the WHO in carrying out its missions

  And Beijing assured this Tuesday that its support for the organization would not weaken. “The role of the WHO must be strengthened, not weakened,” stressed Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for Chinese diplomacy, adding that “China, as it has always done, will support the WHO in carrying out of its missions”.