US set to leave WHO in 2021 after claims of China’s influence.
The United Nations said that the United States will leave the World Health Organization after receiving a notification from the US.
The United Nations on Tuesday revealed that the United States of America will leave the World Health Organization (WHO) on July 6, 2021. President Donald Trump notified the authorities of leaving the WHO, who Trump alleges is under China’s influence during the global Coronavirus pandemic.
USA owes $200 million to the WHO:
As per a 1948 joint resolution of the US Congress, President Trump has to give one-year notice of the US withdrawal from the Geneva-based global body and pay all Washington’s dues. Trump, who announced the decision over a month ago will now have to bear the cost of clearance of dues which the US owes the WHO. As per the WHO website, currently, the US owes more than $200 million in assessed contributions to the world health body.
Is WHO influenced by China?
The novel COVID-19 virus first emerged in China’s Wuhan late last year, and the US has had escalating tensions with the Asian country ever since, over the coronavirus pandemic. The US accused the WHO of serving as a puppet of China and will leave the body after more than 70 years of membership.
The WHO however, has denied the accusation that they promoted Chinese disinformation about the virus. WHO also denied favoring any particular nation and urged the global leaders to come together to fight against the global pandemic. In April, Trump had halted the funding for the 194-member organization. The United States accounts for more than 25% of the total global Coronavirus cases & deaths and watching the WHO blatantly dance to the tunes of China, pushed Trump to get out of the organization.
