Trump Says US Removing Venezuela From List of Major Drug Transit Countries
President cites progress against narcotics trafficking since Maduro's removal, signals Colombia and Bolivia could be next
US President Donald Trump said the United States is removing Venezuela from its list of major drug transit and production countries, citing progress made against narcotics trafficking since the removal of former President Nicolas Maduro, according to Al Jazeera.
Trump indicated that Colombia and Bolivia could also be removed from the list, though he did not specify a timeline for any further changes, Al Jazeera reported.
The designation, maintained annually by the US government, identifies countries considered major sources or transit points for illicit drugs entering the United States. Removal from the list can affect eligibility for certain forms of US assistance and cooperation.
Al Jazeera's report did not detail the specific evidence or metrics Trump cited to support the claim of progress against narcotics in Venezuela, nor did it include independent verification of the trafficking trends referenced.
The announcement comes amid a broader shift in Venezuela's political situation following Maduro's removal from power. Further details on the circumstances of that removal and its connection to counter-narcotics efforts were not elaborated in the available report.
It remains unclear when any formal decision regarding Colombia or Bolivia might be made, or what criteria would be used to evaluate their potential removal from the list.
Sources
- US removes Venezuela from drug list, Trump says — Al Jazeera — All
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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