Former US Vice President and Democratic presidential frontrunner Joe Biden vowed on Tuesday to have the US rejoin the World Health Organization (WHO) if he is elected in November.
“Americans are safer when America is engaged in strengthening global health. On my first day as President, I will rejoin the WHO and restore our leadership on the world stage,” he tweeted.
Biden’s comment on Twitter came after a senior administration official confirmed that the White House has officially withdrawn the United States from the WHO.
The US withdrawal is effective as of Monday and has been submitted to the United Nations secretary-general, the official said.
In May, Trump warned the WHO that the US will permanently cut all funding for the international health organization if it does not make major reforms.
Before that, Trump had suspended US funding of the WHO. The US contributes roughly $900 million to the WHO’s two-year budget cycle, or just under one-fifth of the organization’s total budget. The US is the WHO’s largest contributor.