Argentina Among 3 to Reject UN Pandemic Declaration

ARGENTINA · POLITICS

Argentina has again sided with the United States at the United Nations, this time against a global pandemic declaration. For Washington, it is another sign that President Javier Milei will back the Trump administration on the world stage.

On Monday, 12 October, Argentina voted against a United Nations declaration on preventing future pandemics. It joined only the United States and Israel in opposing the text, which the General Assembly backed by 153 votes to 3.

The vote matters in Washington because it shows President Javier Milei again aligning Argentina with the Trump administration. Both governments have pulled their countries out of the World Health Organization, the UN health agency based in Geneva.

What the Declaration Says

The declaration is not binding and urges countries to strengthen disease surveillance, local vaccine production and research. It also calls for sustainable financing and fairer access to the benefits of sharing dangerous pathogens, according to La Nación.

The General Assembly is the forum where all 193 UN member states have an equal vote. The declaration was meant to be adopted by consensus at a high-level UN meeting on Friday, 25 September, La Nación reported.

The Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires, seat of Argentina’s executive, which sets the country’s foreign policy, pictured in 2009. Photo: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Why the Text Went to a Vote

Objections from the United States and others blocked adoption by consensus in September, so the measure went to a recorded vote. That procedure records each country’s position, rather than approving the text by general agreement.

New Zealand and Paraguay abstained, while the remaining members present voted in favour, according to La Nación and Ámbito. The two Argentine newspapers reported the result consistently, each citing the General Assembly vote.

Argentina’s Shift Under Milei

Mr Milei, a libertarian economist who took office in December 2023, has reoriented Argentine foreign policy towards the United States and Israel. His government formalised Argentina’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization on 17 March, mirroring an earlier move by Mr Trump.

In March, the same three countries were the only ones to reject a UN resolution condemning the transatlantic slave trade. La Nación reported that measure passed with 123 votes in favour and 52 abstentions.

How the Vote Broke Down

The United States representative criticised what he called divisive ideologies that lacked a shared understanding, La Nación reported. He also objected to references to unfinished talks on sharing pathogen samples and the benefits that flow from them.

The World Health Organization’s director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, urged countries to honour the commitments they had made. Chile’s representative said no country, however large, can face a borderless threat alone.

The Stalled WHO Agreement

The declaration backs a separate WHO pandemic agreement that member states adopted in 2025, La Nación reported. That accord cannot open for signature until negotiators finish an annex on sharing pathogen samples and their benefits.

The WHO plans to review that work at the World Health Assembly in May 2027, or sooner if needed. Argentina, having left the WHO, will sit outside those talks even as pandemics ignore national borders.

What It Means for US Readers

For US investors and officials, the vote confirms that Mr Milei’s Argentina is a dependable partner for the Trump administration. That alignment sits alongside heavy US financial support for Buenos Aires since late 2025, including a currency swap with the US Treasury.

The declaration is non-binding, so it creates no new obligations for American companies, travellers or health agencies. It does, however, signal how far both Washington and Buenos Aires have stepped back from UN-led health cooperation.

What Is Not Known

Neither newspaper reported any public explanation of the vote from Argentina’s foreign ministry or President Milei. The declaration’s formal UN title and document number could not be independently confirmed from the available reports.

What Comes Next

Because the text is non-binding, progress now depends on each country acting voluntarily on prevention and surveillance. This vote does not change any existing law, and the declaration remains a statement of intent rather than a treaty.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Did Argentina Vote Against?

Argentina voted against a non-binding UN General Assembly declaration on preventing and responding to future pandemics. The text passed on Monday, 12 October, by 153 votes to 3.

Which Countries Opposed the Declaration?

Only Argentina, the United States and Israel voted no. New Zealand and Paraguay abstained, La Nación and Ámbito reported.

Why Does This Matter for the United States?

It shows President Javier Milei keeping Argentina closely aligned with the Trump administration at the United Nations. Both countries have also left the World Health Organization.

Is the Declaration Legally Binding?

No, both newspapers describe it as a non-binding political declaration. It urges stronger disease surveillance, research and vaccine production, but leaves action to each government.

Has Argentina Taken Similar Positions Before?

Yes, in March the same three countries were the only ones to reject a UN resolution on the transatlantic slave trade. Argentina also formalised its exit from the World Health Organization on 17 March.

Sources: United Nations General Assembly; La Nación; Ámbito (all accessed 13 October 2026).