The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning that the United States’ planned exit from the global health agency threatens not just America’s safety but that of the entire world, as the year-long withdrawal process nears completion next week.
Speaking from the WHO’s headquarters in Geneva on Tuesday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus lamented the decision by US President Donald Trump to begin the process of withdrawal, describing it as “a loss for the United States, and…a loss for the rest of the world.”
“Withdrawal from WHO…makes the US unsafe… and makes the rest of the world unsafe, so it’s not really the right decision,” Tedros told reporters, emphasising the shared nature of global health threats that transcend national borders.
President Trump signed an executive order on January 20, 2025, on the first day of his second term, directing the United States to withdraw from WHO. The move triggered a mandatory notice period, meaning that the one-year clock for the formal exit is set to conclude this month.
The order marked a renewed effort by the Trump administration to sever ties with the UN health agency after a similar attempt during his first term was reversed by his Democratic successor in 2021.
Tedros underscored the critical role WHO plays in coordinating global responses to diseases, emergencies, and health-security threats, tasks he said benefit all countries, including the United States.
“There are many things that are done through WHO that benefit the US … especially the health security issues,” he said, stressing that no country is safe alone in the face of pandemics and other epidemics.
He called for solidarity and cooperation, underlining that the “best immunity is solidarity” in confronting common enemies such as viruses.
Although the WHO constitution does not explicitly include a withdrawal clause, the organisation acknowledged that arrangements made in 1948 allow member states to exit if certain conditions, including a one-year notice and up-to-date financial obligations, are met. However, WHO’s chief legal officer Steve Solomon noted there is some uncertainty over whether those conditions have been fully satisfied, especially amid reports of US arrears on payments for 2024 and 2025.
The announcement has ignited widespread international concern. Experts and global health advocates warn that the loss of US funding and leadership could weaken WHO’s ability to combat infectious diseases, manage outbreaks, and support health systems worldwide, particularly in developing regions. Research underscores fears that reduced US involvement might jeopardise progress against diseases such as polio, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis and diminish early warning systems critical for pandemic preparedness.
Regional bodies, including the African Union, have expressed dismay at the decision, stressing the vital role WHO plays in safeguarding public health across the continent and urging the United States to reconsider its exit.
With withdrawal set to take effect imminently, the global community watches closely, weighing the potential impact on international health cooperation. Tedros reiterated his hope that the United States would ultimately reconsider and re-engage with WHO’s mission, a sentiment echoed by health officials worldwide who stress that global health challenges demand collective action, not isolation.
