The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has issued a stark warning that it is “now or never” to secure a historic global agreement on preventing future pandemics. This comes after the United States announced its decision to withdraw from the negotiations.
Dr. Tedros emphasized that no country can protect itself from the next pandemic alone, highlighting the urgent need for international cooperation. His statement follows the Trump administration’s formal notification to the WHO on Friday of its decision to exit the pandemic agreement talks.
The initiative to draft a comprehensive accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response began in December 2021, driven by the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed millions of lives, overwhelmed health systems, and crippled economies worldwide.
Following his return to office on January 20, former U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order initiating a one-year process to withdraw from the WHO, an organization he had repeatedly criticized for its handling of the COVID-19 crisis. The order also declared that the U.S. would “cease negotiations” on the pandemic agreement.
Dr. Tedros confirmed that the U.S. formally notified the WHO of its withdrawal from the talks, raising concerns about the future of global health collaboration. The WHO chief urged nations to prioritize unity and solidarity to ensure the world is better prepared for future health emergencies.
