U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met with Argentine President Javier Milei on Tuesday in Buenos Aires, reaffirming their shared goal to **exit the World Health Organization (WHO)** and build an **alternative health system** that prioritizes **science and national sovereignty**. The two leaders, known for their **anti-establishment ideologies**, have criticized the WHO for global overreach and politicized health policies, asserting that the organization’s governance undermines scientific integrity and national control.
The meeting took place at the Casa Rosada, the presidential palace in Buenos Aires, marking a significant development in **U.S.-Argentina relations**. Milei, a libertarian economist celebrated for his **budget-cutting policies**, and Kennedy, a Trump-appointed health official, have both long advocated for **leaving the WHO**, with Milei’s government officially confirming Argentina’s **departure** during Kennedy’s visit. This decision aligns with President Trump’s **’Make America Healthy Again’ (MA, HA)** agenda, which seeks to **reform global health governance** and promote **national sovereignty** in healthcare policy.
Both leaders have framed their **exit from the WHO** as a necessary step to **challenge the organization’s influence** and **establish a new international health framework** that is **free from political control** and **corruption**. Their plan emphasizes **scientific rigor**, **individual freedom**, and **sovereign decision-making**, rejecting what they describe as the **bureaucratic and politicized approach** of the WHO. The **new health system** they envision is intended to **promote transparency** and **accountability** in international health governance while ensuring **national autonomy** in health policy planning.
The move has drawn **mixed reactions** from critics and supporters. While some applaud the **vision for an independent global health network**, others, including **opposition groups in Argentina**, warn that **leaving the WHO** could **limit access to critical funding and vaccines**. Global health experts have largely defended the WHO’s role despite acknowledging its **missteps during the pandemic**. Nonetheless, Milei and Kennedy remain **unwavering in their commitment** to their **shared agenda**, framing their **exit as a necessary step** to **ensure health policies are grounded in science** and **free from political manipulation**.
Milei’s government has **criticized the WHO for its failed COVID response**, describing its **lockdown strategy** as a **’caveman quarantine’** driven by **political interests** rather than **scientific evidence**. Kennedy has also **supported the call to exit the WHO**, arguing that the organization is **compromised by foreign governments and corporate interests**. Both leaders have urged other countries to **join their initiative** to **reform the global health system** and **establish a new, independent framework** for international health governance.
The meeting also highlighted **shared philosophies between the two leaders**, including their **anti-establishment stances** and **commitment to reducing government overreach**. Milei’s economic reforms, which included **slashing public spending** and **ending energy subsidies**, led to Argentina’s **first budget surplus in nearly 15 years** and a **sharp reduction in monthly inflation**. Kennedy’s **MAHA agenda** mirrors these priorities by focusing on **reforming the U.S. federal health system** and **challenging global health governance**.
This **deepening alliance** between the U.S. and Argentina represents a **new chapter in their bilateral relationship**, with both leaders **actively pursuing a more independent global health framework**. The **decision to exit the WHO** is seen as a **major departure** from Argentina’s previous international partnerships and could **signal a shift** for other nations considering similar moves. Milei and Kennedy have framed their **shared vision** as a **step toward a more accountable and independent global health network**, despite concerns about the **potential loss of critical international support**.