The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the United States’ decision to withdraw from the global health body would leave both America and the rest of the world less safe, rejecting claims by the US government that the organisation failed during the COVID-19 pandemic and reaffirming its commitment to global health cooperation.

In a statement expressing regret over the notification submitted by the US government, WHO said it hoped the United States would reconsider and return to active participation in the organisation in the future, stressing that it remains committed to working with all countries to achieve the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental right for all people.

The organisation noted that the United States is a founding member of WHO and has played a significant role in some of its most notable public health achievements, including the eradication of smallpox and progress in addressing polio, HIV, Ebola, influenza, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, antimicrobial resistance and food safety.

WHO said the notification of withdrawal raises important governance issues, which will be examined by the WHO Executive Board at its regular meeting beginning on February 2, as well as by the World Health Assembly at its annual meeting scheduled for May 2026.

Responding to statements from the US government alleging that WHO had “trashed and tarnished” the country, insulted it and compromised its independence, the organisation said the claims were unfounded. It maintained that it has always engaged with the United States in good faith and with full respect for its sovereignty, consistent with its approach to all Member States.

Addressing accusations that it failed during the COVID-19 pandemic by obstructing the timely and accurate sharing of information and concealing its shortcomings, WHO acknowledged that no institution or government managed every aspect of the crisis perfectly. However, it said it stood by its response to what it described as an unprecedented global health emergency.

According to the organisation, it acted quickly throughout the pandemic, sharing information rapidly and transparently and offering advice to countries based on the best available evidence. It clarified that while it recommended the use of masks, vaccines and physical distancing, it did not recommend mask mandates, vaccine mandates or lockdowns, noting that such measures were decisions taken by sovereign governments.

The global health agency said it immediately requested additional information from China and activated its emergency incident management system after receiving reports on December 31, 2019, of a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown cause in Wuhan. By January 11, 2020, when the first death was reported, the organisation said it had already alerted the world through formal channels, public statements and social media, convened global experts and issued guidance to help countries protect their populations and health systems.

It added that when the Director-General declared COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020, there were fewer than 100 reported cases outside China and no reported deaths. WHO recalled that in the early weeks of the outbreak, the Director-General repeatedly urged countries to act swiftly, warning that the window of opportunity was closing and describing the situation as “not a drill” and COVID-19 as “public enemy number one”.

The organisation said multiple reviews of the pandemic, including assessments of its own performance, have since resulted in steps to strengthen its work and to support countries in improving preparedness and response capacities. Systems developed and managed before, during and after the emergency phase of the pandemic, it said, have contributed to keeping countries safe, including the United States.

WHO also rejected claims that it had pursued a politicised or bureaucratic agenda driven by countries hostile to American interests, describing such assertions as untrue. It said that as a specialised agency of the United Nations governed by 194 Member States, it remains impartial and committed to serving all countries with respect for their sovereignty and without fear or favour.

The organisation expressed appreciation for the continued support of its Member States and cited the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement last year. Once ratified, WHO said the agreement would become a landmark instrument of international law aimed at strengthening global preparedness for future pandemics.

Member States are currently negotiating an annex on pathogen access and benefit sharing, which the organisation said would promote rapid detection and sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential, as well as equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.