In short
- The US State Department removed Venezuela and Bolivia from its list of countries that failed demonstrably to combat international drug trafficking, keeping Colombia, Afghanistan and Myanmar on it.
- Venezuela had been classified as non-compliant since 2005, when Hugo Chávez expelled the US drug enforcement agency, and the 2020 indictment accusing Nicolás Maduro of leading the Cartel de los Soles was dropped after his arrest on January 3.
- Colombia was decertified for a second consecutive year, with explicit US criticism of outgoing President Gustavo Petro over record levels of coca cultivation and cocaine production.
- The UN recorded 261,000 hectares planted with coca in Colombia as of December 2024, a historic high that Petro disclosed in June.
- Trump granted Colombia a waiver averting the suspension of security cooperation, and the State Department said it was redirecting US$52 million in military financing to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Panama.
The United States removed Venezuela and Bolivia from the list of countries it says failed demonstrably to combat international drug trafficking, while keeping Colombia, Afghanistan and Myanmar on that list. The State Department released on Wednesday the determination, which was sent to Congress on Tuesday as part of the annual assessment of 23 countries deemed major drug transit or producing states.
Why did the US remove Venezuela from the list?
The State Department attributed the change to the arrest and removal of former President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, following a US-led military operation, and to cooperation from the interim government of Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, particularly against the Tren de Aragua gang. The gang’s leader, Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero, was killed in June in a separate US military operation.
“Given the positive steps taken under the interim presidency of Delcy Rodríguez, I have determined Venezuela should no longer be designated as having failed demonstrably to fulfill its drug control commitments,” the State Department statement reads.
Venezuela had been classified as non-compliant since 2005, when Hugo Chávez expelled the US drug enforcement agency from the country. It is the first time in more than twenty years that Venezuela has left that category. The 2020 indictment accusing Maduro of leading the so-called Cartel de los Soles was dropped following his arrest. In a separate case in the United States, Maduro ally Alex Saab pleaded guilty in a US money laundering case. Venezuela remains on the broader list of 23 countries.
Why does Colombia remain on the list?
Colombia was decertified for a second consecutive year, with explicit criticism of outgoing President Gustavo Petro over record levels of coca cultivation and cocaine production, and praise for President Abelardo de la Espriella, in office since August 7.
“Colombia is poised to resume its place as our foremost security partner in the hemisphere,” said the message Trump sent to Congress, which raised the possibility of reversing the decertification in 2027 if the country makes progress on eradication and dismantling criminal networks.
As in 2025, Trump granted Colombia a waiver averting the suspension of security cooperation and the financial restrictions that normally follow decertification, including the US obligation to oppose the country’s loans at multilateral institutions. On September 15, the State Department said it was redirecting US$52 million in military financing to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Panama, at the expense of four other countries.
How much coca is grown in Colombia?
The UN recorded 261,000 hectares planted with coca in Colombia as of December 2024, a historic high that Petro disclosed in June following a dispute with the agency over the release of the data. De la Espriella often cites a figure of 300,000 hectares without specifying his source.
“Whoever persists in drug trafficking, terrorism or organized crime will find the full legitimate force of the state,” De la Espriella said a few weeks ago while presenting the outlines of his security policy. The new Colombian president has made the fight against organized crime a central plank of his administration, in contrast with his predecessor’s approach of negotiating with various armed groups. Colombia and Brazil led the 2025 count of killings of land activists.
Which countries remain designated as failing?
Colombia, Afghanistan and Myanmar remain on the list of countries deemed to have failed demonstrably to fulfil their drug control commitments. Bolivia was removed alongside Venezuela. Five of the 23 countries on the broader list had been designated as failing demonstrably last year.
Frequently asked questions
Did the US remove Venezuela from its list of countries failing on drug control?
Yes. The State Department removed Venezuela and Bolivia from the category of countries deemed to have failed demonstrably to combat international drug trafficking, in a determination sent to Congress on Tuesday and released on Wednesday.
Why did the US decertify Colombia again?
Colombia was decertified for a second consecutive year, with criticism of outgoing President Gustavo Petro over record levels of coca cultivation and cocaine production. Trump granted Colombia a waiver averting the suspension of security cooperation.
How many hectares of coca are grown in Colombia?
The UN recorded 261,000 hectares planted with coca in Colombia as of December 2024, a historic high that Petro disclosed in June. President Abelardo de la Espriella often cites 300,000 hectares without specifying his source.
Which countries remain on the US list of failing drug control states?
Colombia, Afghanistan and Myanmar remain designated as having failed demonstrably to fulfil their drug control commitments. They are among 23 countries assessed as major drug transit or producing states.
With reporting from en.mercopress.com.
Stock image, not from the events described. City Skyline — Tricia Gray / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)
