“We aren’t pursuing a politicised, bureaucratic agenda driven by nations hostile to American interests,” WHO denies.
GENEVA, 25th January- In a formal statement addressing the United States’ withdrawal notification, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Saturday 24th expressed profound concern, framing the decision as a threat to global and American safety.
The global health body highlighted that the move, set for consideration by its governing bodies in early 2026, undermines decades of collaborative achievement. It explicitly countered numerous assertions made by the US President Donald Trump-led government, rejecting the characterisation that it has “trashed and tarnished” American interests or compromised its independence.
The WHO, however, states that the reverse is true: it has been steadfast in engaging all member states, including the US, in good faith and with full respect for national sovereignty.
A primary concern raised is the US citation of “WHO failures during the COVID-19 pandemic,” including allegations of obstructing information sharing and concealing shortcomings.
In a robust, point-by-point defence of its actions throughout the crisis, the WHO detailed its role before, during, and after the pandemic, outlining a timeline of proactive engagement. It notes that within hours of receiving the first reports of a cluster of cases of “pneumonia of unknown cause” in Wuhan on 31 December 2019, it activated its emergency incident management systems and pressed China for more information.
According to the WHO, by the time the first death was reported from China on 11 January 2020, they had already issued global alerts, convened experts, and published comprehensive guidance for countries on how to protect their populations and health systems.
The statement further explains that the WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, sounded the highest alarm by declaring a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020, when there were fewer than 100 cases and no deaths reported outside China. Throughout the following months, its leadership issued urgent, public calls for immediate national action, warning that the “window of opportunity” was closing.
The organisation reiterates that while it recommended protective measures like masks and vaccines, it never mandated them, asserting that final decisions on policies like lockdowns remained the sovereign right of member states.
In the wake of multiple pandemic reviews, the WHO emphasises that it has taken concrete steps to strengthen its own capacities and support national preparedness, arguing that the systems it managed “24/7” contributed to global safety, including within the US.
Addressing perhaps the most politically charged accusation, the WHO firmly denies the US claim that it pursues a “politicised, bureaucratic agenda driven by nations hostile to American interests.”
It asserts its foundational impartiality as a UN specialised agency serving all 194 member states equally, “without fear or favour.”
Towards this end, the WHO underscores the continued engagement of the global community, citing the recent adoption of the landmark WHO Pandemic Agreement and ongoing negotiations for a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing system as evidence of progress driven by collective sovereignty, not politicisation.
It concludes with a hope for the US’s future return to active participation, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to the highest attainable standard of health for all people.
