The United States, as one of the founding nations of the World Health Organization (WHO), has played a pivotal role in many of the organization’s major public health successes. These include the eradication of smallpox and significant progress in combating polio, HIV, Ebola, influenza, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and food safety challenges.

Given this longstanding collaboration, WHO expresses concern over the United States’ formal notice of withdrawal. This move, WHO believes, diminishes health security not only for the U.S. but for the global community. The implications of this decision will be reviewed by the WHO Executive Board during its upcoming meeting in February, and also by the World Health Assembly in May 2026.

In response to recent U.S. statements suggesting that WHO has disrespected or attempted to undermine U.S. sovereignty and independence, WHO emphasizes that it has always engaged with the United States in a constructive spirit, as it does with all of its Member States.

The U.S. cited WHO’s response during the COVID-19 pandemic as a key reason for its decision, accusing the agency of failing to share accurate information in a timely manner and of subsequently concealing those shortcomings. WHO acknowledges that no institution or country has handled every aspect of the crisis flawlessly, but insists that it responded swiftly and transparently. Throughout the pandemic, WHO provided information based on available science and issued recommendations regarding masks, vaccinations, and distancing measures. At no point did it institute mandates; it left such decisions to the discretion of individual governments.

Upon learning of the initial reports on December 31, 2019, of a new pneumonia-like illness in Wuhan, China, WHO promptly requested more data and triggered its emergency response mechanisms. By January 11, 2020, when the first fatal case was reported, WHO had already begun alerting the international community, organizing experts, and publishing guidance on protective measures and emergency response strategies. When the Director-General declared a public health emergency of global concern on January 30, 2020, there were fewer than 100 confirmed cases outside China and no deaths.

In the early stages of the pandemic, WHO’s Director-General repeatedly urged swift protective actions by all countries, warning that time to act was limited. He emphasized the urgency with messages such as “this is not a drill,” and referred to COVID-19 as “public enemy number one.”

WHO has actively engaged in reviews of its performance during the pandemic and has worked to improve its own operations and better support countries in enhancing their preparedness and response systems. The infrastructure WHO put in place before and during the pandemic continues to protect countries globally, including the United States.

The United States also suggested that WHO advances a politicized and bureaucratic agenda influenced by unfriendly nations. WHO firmly rejects this claim. As a specialized agency of the United Nations, WHO operates under the direction of 194 Member States, remains neutral, and is dedicated to serving the health interests of all peoples fairly and independently.

WHO values the commitment and collaboration of all its Member States, many of whom are working collectively to tackle the world's pressing health challenges. A major recent achievement was the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. Once ratified, this agreement will serve as an international legal framework for pandemic preparedness. Member States are now discussing an additional component — the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system — which aims to ensure fast detection of pandemic threats and fair access to vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics.

WHO remains hopeful that the United States will reengage in active partnership in the future. Until then, WHO continues its unwavering mission to collaborate with all nations in pursuit of its founding goal: health as a basic human right for everyone, everywhere.