Donald Trump’s victory in the US elections could lead to major changes in the global healthcare system. Experts warn that the possible resignation of American leadership in this area will have a serious impact on international initiatives. Europe, while capable of contributing, is unlikely to completely replace the United States, as it did during the COVID-19 pandemic.
EuroNews writes about this.
Trump and his opponent Kamala Harris have opposing views on key aspects of global health. Political divisions span pandemic response, reproductive health, climate change and humanitarian aid. The new Trump administration can have an impact not only on national politics, but also on the situation in Europe and the world as a whole.
His first term provided a clear picture of the approach to health issues: funding cuts and the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) sent a signal to the global community. He also refused to support the COVAX vaccine sharing program. While Germany temporarily increased its support to the WHO and became its largest donor, the current economic situation and changing priorities make such a move unlikely to be repeated.
Suri Moon, co-director of the Center for Global Health in Geneva, notes that the Trump administration may try to complicate negotiations on a global treaty to combat pandemics. Negotiations are expected to conclude this year, but the deadline has already been pushed back to May 2025.
Reproductive health initiatives may also be affected. The United States has traditionally reviewed the so-called “Mexico City Policy,” which limits funding to international organizations if they support abortion. Trump has expanded the ban in the past and is likely to strengthen it again. Germany and the Netherlands have already helped raise funds for organizations that have lost support due to such restrictions, but their resources are not enough to fully offset the reduction in American funding.
It will be difficult for Europe to fully compensate for cuts in US funding for global sexual and reproductive health programs. The United States allocated $9.4 billion for this purpose in 2022 and it will be extremely difficult for Europe to cover this financial gap, says Lisa Gerlitz, head of the Brussels office of the World Population Foundation.
However, money is not the only factor. The political willingness of European leaders to support global health is also questionable. The Trump administration’s impact on international programs is likely to be even greater than in its first term, and it will be more difficult for Europe to cope with the consequences, Goerlitz believes.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen supports the EU’s Global Health Strategy, created in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and aimed at strengthening its partnership with Africa. However, the EU’s internal priorities have already changed: this year, funds allocated to health were redirected to support Ukraine. The new composition of the European Commission is also reducing its focus on health, which may indicate a change in EU priorities.
Kursor previously wrote that Putin addressed Trump on the occasion of his election victory.
Russian President Putin also said whether he would call Donald Trump after his election victory.
