Argentina has formally ratified its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), a move initially announced in February by President Javier Milei. The decision was reaffirmed during a visit to Buenos Aires by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has echoed similar criticisms of the UN agency.

Argentina’s government issued a strong rebuke of the WHO, stating its policies are “not based on science but on political interests” and citing the organization’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic—especially its strict lockdowns—as “disastrous.”

Kennedy, known for his vaccine skepticism and criticism of the pharmaceutical industry, met with Argentina’s health minister Mario Lugones to begin crafting a joint health agenda focused on transparency and trust. Lugones emphasized shared values with Kennedy, saying both nations envision a new path for global health cooperation.

In a recent video to the WHO’s World Health Assembly, Kennedy called on other countries to exit the agency and alleged its policies are shaped by China, gender ideology, and pharmaceutical influence.

The Argentine government also announced a comprehensive review of its national health agencies, aiming to modernize and streamline public health structures plagued by “overlaps, outdated regulations, and limited oversight.”

This makes Argentina the second country after the United States under Trump to formally sever ties with the WHO, marking a significant shift in its international health policy.