The United States has removed Venezuela from its list of countries that have failed to meet international counternarcotics commitments, signaling a shift in Washington’s evaluation of the nation’s efforts against drug trafficking. This decision follows what the Trump administration described as progress under interim President Delcy RodrÃguez in combating drug-trafficking organizations.
Venezuela’s removal marks a change from previous years when the country was included on the list of nations not meeting counternarcotics obligations. Meanwhile, Colombia remains on the list, with the White House identifying it as one of four countries that did not make substantial efforts over the past year to fulfill their international counternarcotics responsibilities.
President Donald Trump indicated that Colombia could be removed from the list next year if it demonstrates further progress in addressing issues such as coca cultivation, cocaine production, and drug-trafficking networks. Colombian officials have expressed their intention to target the entire drug-trafficking chain, including illicit crops, production facilities, trafficking routes, and criminal finances.
The recent U.S. decision underscores Washington’s ongoing focus on collaborating with Latin American countries to tackle drug trafficking. Both Venezuela and Colombia are still considered major drug-transit or illicit drug-producing countries for fiscal year 2027, despite Venezuela’s improved standing in meeting its counternarcotics commitments.