US President Donald Trump threatened on
Monday to permanently halt funding for the World Health
Organization (WHO) if it did not commit to improvements within
30 days, and to reconsider the membership of the United States
in the body.
Trump suspended US contributions to the WHO last month,
accusing it of promoting China's "disinformation" about the
coronavirus outbreak, although WHO officials denied the
accusation and China said it was transparent and open.
"If the WHO does not commit to major substantive
improvements within the next 30 days, I will make my temporary
freeze of United States funding to the WHO permanent and
reconsider our membership," Trump told its chief, Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus, in a letter posted https://bit.ly/3bNB3R7 on
Twitter.
Earlier, Trump said the WHO had "done a very sad job" in its
handling of the virus and he would make a decision soon on U.S.
funding.
In his letter Trump said the only way forward for the body
was if it could demonstrate independence from China, adding that
his administration had already started reform discussions with
Tedros.
On Monday, the WHO said an independent review of the global
virus response would begin as soon as possible and it received
backing and a hefty pledge of funds from China, in the spotlight
as the origin of the pandemic.