USA leaving the WHO, but still in the WHO debate?
ST.GALLEN (Reuters) - Today, Reuters (International) got a closer look to the relationship between the US and the WHO. In addition, it had the chance to speak with the delegate of the US in the WHO for a more in-depth insight on the relationship between the US and the WHO since the current US-President, Donald Trump, has signaled the withdrawal from the organization.
Firstly, it seemed to be crucial for the North American delegate to make it clear that the US is currently still part of the WHO. However, it will resign the following year. Although the US has signaled for its withdrawal, it does not mean that the US will not participate at the current conference in the WHO as it is technically still a member. The primary issue for the US with the current WHO is its funding-discrepancy between the members. The US has been the main funder for the WHO before it stopped its funding in the beginning of 2020, whereas member states such as China have contributed much less for the organization. Furthermore, another issue highlighted by the US is the structure of the WHO that needs to be reformed. As well as the current head of the WHO shall be changed according to the delegate of the US since it repeatedly showed to be inferior to China. Especially at the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic of 2020, also mentioned by the delegate of the US.
Looking at the interdependence, the United States’ health sector has been closely connected to the WHO; since it is a member and major funder of the organization. The main reason for the withdrawal, according to the delegate of the US, was not based on any actual advantages but more the issue of an imbalanced funding of the WHO. “Despite being the primary funder, the WHO has shown a lot of ties with China in the past for some reason and less with the US, therefore the US cannot support a system that seems to be corrupt” says the US delegate.
Although the US has filed for withdrawal and criticized the organization, it has shown to be very cooperative at the SGMUN Conference 2020 by discussing with the delegates present but more importantly in close cooperation with the delegate of China. Both sides have been willing to find consensus in the WHO and put other issues aside to find a solution for a more secure world in an age of biothreats. As Reuter has talked to both parties, China and US, it has shown how close they are willing to cooperate in this committee. The fact that China was indicated as sponsor for the working paper the US has introduced, underlines cooperation between the two parties. Their focus has lied on reforming the structure of the WHO primarily in the beginning of today’s sessions to tackle future biothreats globally.
As the US-Elections have taken place in the beginning of this month, the next elected president may change the relationship between the US and WHO. As many sources have reported, Joe Biden has been elected as the next president of the United States taking over the oval Office in January 2021. Joe Biden has shown a different agenda and opinion in terms of its relationship with the WHO so far, which has been fact-checked by Reuters and the delegate of the US. There is the chance that the US may return as a member of the WHO including funding the organization. However, the delegate of the US has stated the fact that there has been indeed voter-fraud in this years’ elections, which has been underlined by the current President Trumps’ most recent Tweets. Therefore, how the relationship between the WHO and the US remains uncertain depending on which president the US-citizens have legally elected.
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