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US likely to resume membership in WHO under Biden - Medvedev

Support for international organizations turned into a bargaining chip in the presidential election results issue, Deputy head of the Russian Security Council noted

MOSCOW, January 16. /TASS/. The United States is highly likely to resume its full-fledged membership in the World Health Organization (WHO) after the elections, Deputy head of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev wrote in his op-ed published by tass.com on Saturday.

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Dmitry Medvedev: America 2.0. After the election

"These elections will inevitably lead to the restoration of the US's full membership and the development of cooperation within international organizations such as the WHO and the WTO," he noted.

"Support for international organizations (WHO, WTO, and others) turned into a bargaining chip in the presidential election results issue. For decades, the US has increased its weight in these organizations. And until recently, the attitude towards them has not depended on a certain administration in the White House," he wrote, adding that the outgoing administration of Donald Trump was known for its abrupt and poorly predictable steps concerning participation in such organizations.

It "certainly destabilized their work. Yet the US's financial support is crucial and very significant for them," he underscored.

US incumbent President Donald Trump said on May 29 his country was terminating relations with the World Health Organization, which, he alleged, was totally controlled by China. He claimed that the WHO and China had failed to take due measures to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus infection. More to it, in his words, the WHO had refused to conduct reforms the US administration insisted on. The United States notified about its withdrawal from the WHO from July 6, 2021.

Meanwhile, President-elect Joe Biden has promised to resume the country’s membership in that organization after taking office.

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