The United States has removed Venezuela from its list of countries failing to meet international counternarcotics commitments, highlighting progress under interim President Delcy Rodríguez. The decision marks a shift in Washington’s assessment of Venezuela, which was previously categorized as lagging in efforts to combat drug trafficking.
The White House announced that Colombia remains on the list of nations that have not demonstrably met these obligations over the past year. Despite ongoing efforts, Colombia is identified alongside three other countries under this designation. President Donald Trump indicated that Colombia could be removed from the list next year if it shows significant improvements in controlling coca cultivation, cocaine production, and disrupting drug-trafficking networks.
Colombian officials have expressed their commitment to tackling the entire drug-trafficking network, which includes targeting illicit crops, production facilities, and trafficking routes. The Colombian government is also focusing on dismantling criminal finances and international syndicates that fuel the drug trade.
This development underscores the United States’ continued focus on enhancing counternarcotics cooperation across Latin America. Both Venezuela and Colombia remain identified as major drug-transit or illicit drug-producing countries for fiscal year 2027, though Venezuela is no longer classified as failing to meet its counternarcotics commitments.
The potential for Colombia to be removed from the list next year reflects the evolving dynamics of international drug enforcement policies and the priority placed on collaborative efforts to curb drug trafficking in the region.