U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday designated Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia and Venezuela as countries that had “failed demonstrably” in their obligations under international counternarcotics agreements over the past year.
The decision, which could affect U.S. funding for the nations, was issued in a presidential determination submitted to Congress. Trump said U.S. assistance remained “vital” to American interests but warned that future support could hinge on stronger efforts to curb drug trafficking.
The announcement followed a U.S. military strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug vessel, the second such operation in recent weeks.
In the case of Colombia, Trump said coca cultivation and cocaine production had “surged to all-time records under President Gustavo Petro” and criticised his “failed attempts to seek accommodations with narco-terrorist groups.” He thanked Colombian security personnel for their efforts but blamed political leadership for the setbacks.
“I will consider changing this designation if Colombia’s government takes more aggressive action to eradicate coca and reduce cocaine production and trafficking,” Trump said.
Petro, who took office in 2022, initially pursued peace agreements with armed groups before shifting to a strategy combining social and military measures in coca-growing regions. He lamented Washington’s decision, saying it ignored the sacrifices of Colombian police, soldiers and civilians killed in anti-trafficking operations.
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“What we are doing does not really have to do with the Colombian people,” Petro said during a televised cabinet meeting. “Rather, it is to stop American society from getting their noses dirty from the desire to work, work, work.”
Colombia’s ambassador to Washington, Daniel Garcia-Pena, had warned that U.S. funding was already under strain following the dismantling of USAID, and that as much as $100 million in programmes not focused on drug trafficking could be cut if Washington moved ahead with decertification.
On Venezuela, Trump accused President Nicolas Maduro of leading “one of the largest cocaine trafficking networks in the world” and pledged continued efforts to bring him to justice. Caracas has consistently denied such allegations, insisting they are part of U.S. attempts to pursue regime change through military pressure in the Caribbean.
Venezuela’s communications ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
