Argentina is pulling out of the World Health Organization (WHO). 

President Javier Milei has ordered Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein to withdraw the country from the organization, due to “deep differences” over how the WHO managed the COVID-19 pandemic, Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni announced in a press conference on Wednesday morning. 

The Milei administration’s announcement was made in lockstep with the United States’ withdrawal from the global public health agency, underscoring Argentina’s alignment with President Donald Trump.

Adorni said that the WHO’s pandemic management, along with decisions made by former President Alberto Fernández, “led [Argentina] to the longest lockdown in human history” and for the country to be subject to “certain countries’ political influence.”

“Argentines won’t allow for an international organization to intervene in our sovereignty, much less in our health,” Adorni said.

The government has claimed that exiting the WHO will not affect healthcare in Argentina. However, critics were quick to argue that it would affect important components of the country’s public health system, including vaccine purchases and outbreak monitoring.