The U.S. has removed Venezuela from the list of countries that have failed in the fight against drugs — Bloomberg
The United States has removed Venezuela from the list of countries that, according to Washington, have “manifestly failed” to fulfill their obligations in the fight against illicit drug trafficking.
At the same time, Colombia remains on the list, although U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that its status could be reviewed as early as next year if the new government demonstrates significant progress in combating coca cultivation, cocaine production, and drug trafficking.
In a statement submitted to Congress on September 15, Trump linked the change in Venezuela’s status to the actions of the interim government led by President Delcy Rodríguez following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces in January.
“In light of the positive steps taken under Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, I have determined that Venezuela should no longer be considered a country that has clearly failed to meet its drug control obligations,” Trump stated.
According to him, Washington expects Caracas to deliver further “measurable results” in dismantling groups that the U.S. administration labels as “narco-terrorist” and in halting the transit of drugs through Venezuelan territory to the United States.
Colombia, on the other hand, still retains the status of a state that, in Washington’s view, has not fulfilled its relevant international obligations. Trump blamed the previous administration of President Gustavo Petro for the situation, accusing it of an increase in cocaine production. At the same time, the White House has taken a much more favorable view of the new government of Abelardo de la Esprielia, which took office in August.
“I will consider revoking the status of a country that has ‘clearly failed’ to meet its obligations if the new administration demonstrates the necessary results. This status persists solely because of the incompetence and chaos created by the previous far-left government for most of last year,” Trump said.
De la Espriel’s administration has already declared a significantly tougher stance in the fight against drug trafficking. According to official data from the Colombian presidential administration, in just the first 15 days of the new government’s tenure, law enforcement seized more than 12 metric tons of cocaine, destroyed or disabled 162 facilities linked to drug production, and arrested 1,574 suspects in drug-related crimes.
De la Espiella himself stated that his government has no plans to negotiate with groups involved in drug trafficking and terrorism, and promises to use “the full legal force of the state” against them.
Trump also stated that under the new government, Colombia could return to its role as one of the United States’ key security partners in the Western Hemisphere.
For their part, Colombian authorities have declared their intention to combat more than just coca cultivation. The country’s ambassador to the U.S., María Consuelo Araújo, stated that the strategy would target the entire drug trafficking chain.
“Our goal is to combat the entire drug trafficking chain: from illicit crops, laboratories, and chemical precursors to transportation routes, criminal finance, command structures, and international networks,” she said.
At the same time, the government’s ability to destroy crops remains legally limited. Colombia’s Constitutional Court has imposed strict conditions for resuming aerial spraying of glyphosate due to potential risks to human health and the environment.
Source: Bloomberg.
The U.S. has unveiled new charges against Maduro, his wife, and his son.
A court remanded two more military officers into custody in the case involving drugs found in Shirshin’s car.
