Published on 17 March 2026 in Client Alerts

United States withdraws from WHO and dozens of international organisations

In January 2026, the United States formally completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization and announced its intention to withdraw from 66 international organisations and multilateral bodies, including numerous United Nations-affiliated entities.  The decision follows a broader governmental review assessing participation in international institutions against perceived U.S. national interests.

The measures terminate U.S. membership, governance participation and voluntary financial contributions to affected organisations.  Several of these organisations operate in areas such as global health, climate cooperation, development finance, migration, and scientific collaboration.  The current US administration has framed the withdrawals as part of a shift towards bilateral engagement and reduced reliance on multilateral frameworks.  The United States has historically been among the largest financial and political supporters of international institutions, including the WHO, raising questions regarding institutional funding gaps and future global standard-setting dynamics.

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