USA16 September, 20263 min read
Trump Removes Venezuela From U.S. Drug Control Failure List After Delcy Rodríguez Cooperation
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Trump removed Venezuela from the list of nations failing to combat illicit drug trafficking. Cooperation with Delcy Rodríguez's government cited as key factor.
Venezuela reclassified by Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump removed Venezuela from the list of countries that have failed to meet their international counternarcotics obligations, while keeping Venezuela classified as a major drug-transit or major illicit drug-producing country.
Trump said the change followed increased cooperation with interim President Delcy Rodríguez’s government after the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, and he tied the decision to the elimination of Tren de Aragua leader Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as “Niño Guerrero.”
In the presidential determination submitted to Congress on Tuesday, Trump said, “Given the positive steps taken under interim President Delcy Rodríguez, I have determined Venezuela should no longer be designated as having failed demonstrably to fulfill its drug control commitments,” and he said he expects continued progress dismantling groups his administration describes as narcoterrorist organizations.
The decision came as part of the annual determination identifying major drug-transit or illicit drug-producing countries, and Trump named 23 countries including Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, China, Bolivia and Peru.
Reuters reported the removal was the first time in more than 20 years, and it said Trump added he may consider removing neighboring Colombia.
Colombia review and conditions
Trump said Colombia is poised to resume its place as the “foremost security partner in the hemisphere” after the election of President Abelardo De La Espriella, and he added he may consider lifting Colombia’s “failed demonstrably” status if it makes progress over the coming year. In the same presidential determination, Trump said, “If, as expected, Colombia makes progress on aggressive coca eradication and dismantling its narcoterrorist networks over the coming year, I will consider lifting the country’s 'failed demonstrably' status.” ANI News said the United States took Venezuela off the roster for the first time in over two decades and described a potential review for Colombia, while Reuters said the decision was tied to cooperation with the interim government led by Delcy Rodriguez.
The Reuters report also said Colombia was designated last year by Trump for failing to combat cocaine production, amid repeated mud-slinging between Trump and former leftist President Gustavo Petro. ABC News described the move as removing Venezuela from a second, far more severe category, while keeping Venezuela on the list of world’s main drug transit or production countries and said the determination was sent to Congress on Tuesday and released Wednesday by the State Department.
Broader drug list remains
Even after Venezuela’s removal from the “failed demonstrably” category, the United States continues to classify Venezuela and Colombia as major drug transit or major producers alongside Afghanistan, the Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, China, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama and Peru.
Reuters said the administration emphasized that inclusion on the broader list does not necessarily mean a government has failed to cooperate with Washington, and it said only Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burma and Colombia were designated as having “failed demonstrably” during the previous 12 months.
Arab News said the U.S. praised Venezuela’s anti-drug trafficking cooperation and quoted Trump saying, “Given the positive steps taken under interim President Delcy Rodriguez, I have determined Venezuela should no longer be designated as having failed demonstrably to fulfill its drug control commitments.”
The TribLIVE report said the decision came alongside U.N. investigators warning that many institutions associated with repression under Maduro remain in place, and it cited the U.N. Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela saying hundreds of political prisoners have been released.
In a separate framing, Noovo Info said the U.S. granted Venezuela a “passing grade,” while still keeping it on a blacklist of major drug-producing countries or transit routes, and it quoted Trump saying, “Given the positive measures taken under interim President Delcy Rodriguez, I have decided that Venezuela should no longer be considered to have clearly failed to meet its drug control commitments.”