**US Removes Venezuela from List of Drug Transit and Production Countries**
*By Umar Farooq, Al Jazeera*
In a significant policy shift, the Trump administration has officially removed Venezuela from its list of major drug transit or production countries. This decision was announced in a statement submitted to the US Congress and made public on September 16, 2026. The move reflects the evolving dynamics between the United States and Venezuela, particularly following the ousting of former President Nicolás Maduro.
President Donald Trump attributed the decision to the efforts of his administration in combating drug trafficking, particularly through the arrest of Maduro, who has been labeled as a "drug trafficker" by US authorities. The US has been pursuing legal action against Maduro, who was abducted in January and is currently facing drug trafficking charges in a New York City federal court. Trump's statement highlighted the growing cooperation between the US and Venezuela's interim government, led by Delcy Rodriguez, in addressing narcotics-related issues.
The removal of Venezuela from the drug list comes amid considerations to also drop Colombia and Bolivia from similar designations. Trump expressed optimism regarding the new conservative leadership in these countries, suggesting that their governments are poised to enhance efforts against coca cultivation and narcoterrorism. Despite this, both Colombia and Bolivia will maintain their current designations for the time being.
Under US law, the President is required to report annually to Congress regarding other nations' efforts to combat narcotics production and trafficking. Countries listed face restrictions on certain types of financial assistance from the US. In the latest report, Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burma, and Colombia were noted as having "failed demonstrably" in their anti-drug efforts, while Mexico, Canada, Brazil, and Nicaragua were also criticized.
Trump's statement emphasized the political shifts in South America over the past year, which he believes have opened avenues for increased US cooperation with regional governments. The rise of right-wing leaders in several Latin American countries, including Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela, has aligned these nations more closely with US interests.
Many of these countries have joined the Shield of the Americas program, a US-led military and security alliance aimed at combating drug trafficking and related criminal activities in the region. In conjunction with the announcement regarding Venezuela, the Trump administration also revealed a redirection of $52 million in foreign military funding toward Latin America, moving resources away from European and Middle Eastern partners.
As the geopolitical landscape in Latin America continues to evolve, the implications of these changes for US foreign policy and regional security remain to be seen. The removal of Venezuela from the drug list signifies a potential thaw in relations between the two nations, paving the way for further collaboration in addressing narcotics trafficking and economic interests, particularly in the oil sector.