WHO regrets U.S. withdrawal and urges renewed global health partnership

WHO’s statement expresses regret over the United States’ notification of withdrawal, stating the move would reduce safety for both the U.S. and the world and noting that the issue will be discussed by the WHO Executive Board and World Health Assembly in 2026. It defends WHO’s COVID-19 response as transparent and evidence-based, clarifies that WHO did not advocate mask or vaccine mandates or lockdowns, and highlights ongoing efforts to strengthen pandemic preparedness—such as the WHO Pandemic Agreement and Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing—while expressing hope the United States will return to active participation.