The logo of the World Health Organization (WHO) outside its headquarters in Geneva Photo: VCG

The World Health Organization (WHO) chief said on Saturday that the reasons given by the US for its decision to withdraw from the WHO are "untrue."

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, made the remarks on social media platform X. He warned that the move will make the US and the world "less safe."

The X post also attached a WHO statement released on Saturday in response to multiple "reasons cities for the US decision to withdraw from WHO."

These responses include statements by the US government accusing the agency of having "trashed and tarnished" the US, insulted it, and compromised its independence. WHO rejected the claims, saying that "the reverse is true," and stressed that, as with all Member States, it has always sought to engage with the US "in good faith, with full respect for its sovereignty."

WHO also responded in the statement as the US cited what it described as "WHO failures during the COVID-19 pandemic," alleging that the organization had "obstructed the timely and accurate sharing of critical information" and later "concealed those failures." WHO acknowledged that "no organization or government got everything right" during the unprecedented global health crisis, but said it "stands by its response," noting that it acted quickly, shared information transparently, and provided guidance based on the best available scientific evidence.

The accuse from US also mentioned WHO of pursuing a "politicized, bureaucratic agenda driven by nations hostile to American interests." WHO rejected the allegation as "untrue," stating that as a specialized agency of the United Nations governed by 194 Member States, it "has always been and remains impartial," and exists to serve all countries "with respect for their sovereignty, and without fear or favour."

The WHO noted that it appreciates the support and continued engagement of all its Member States, which continue to work within the framework of WHO to pursue solutions to the world's biggest health threats, both communicable and noncommunicable.

As January 22 marks one year since the US formally submitted its World Health Organization (WHO) withdrawal notice to the United Nations, the US has procedurally withdrawn from the WHO, CCTV reported on Thursday. 

The US move dates back to January 20 last year, when Trump signed an executive order announcing the country's withdrawal from the WHO. The United Nations received formal notification two days later. Under the organization's charter, a member state's withdrawal takes effect one year after notice is submitted, the Xinhua News Agency reported. 

Following the move, the US has yet to pay its outstanding membership dues, a WHO press official has confirmed, according to Xinhua. "As of today, the US has not paid the invoiced amounts for its assessed contributions for the biennium 2024-2025," a WHO press official said in an email to Xinhua on Wednesday. According to NPR, the US owes approximately $278 million for the 2024-2025 period.

The WHO told Global Times on Thursday via email that the US reserved its right to withdraw from the Organization on a one-year notice when it joined WHO, provided however that the financial obligations of the US to the Organization shall be met in full for the Organization's current fiscal year.

The matter is on the agenda of the upcoming Executive Board meeting, and the Secretariat will act on advice and guidance of WHO's governing bodies accordingly, according to WHO. 

California governor Gavin Newsom said Friday that California is joining the World Health Organization's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, marking the state's first formal partnership with the WHO's international public health arm and the latest move by the governor to cast California "as a counterweight to the Trump administration's health policy agenda." per Politico.

New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof reposted after the WHO chief post on X, saying "the US is effectively siding with viruses and bacteria against modern medicine" by withdrawing from WHO.

Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times in a previous interview that the US withdrawal from the WHO will have lasting negative consequences for the US itself, as the WHO remains a key global mechanism for responding to infectious diseases through information sharing and coordinated prevention.

Responding to a media inquiry on the US decision to withdraw from the WHO, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a press conference on January 21, 2025, that as the authoritative and professional international organization in global public health, the WHO plays a central role in coordinating global public health governance. 

Its role should only be strengthened rather than weakened. China will, as always, support the WHO in fulfilling its duties, deepen international cooperation in public health, advance global public health governance, and promote the building of a global community of health for all.