US names 23 countries including India, China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan as major drug transit or illicit drug-producing nations

The United States government, under President Donald Trump, has officially submitted to Congress a Presidential Determination naming 23 countries as “major drug transit or major illicit drug producing” nations, citing concerns over the manufacture and trafficking of illegal drugs and precursor chemicals that pose threats to U.S. safety.

Among those designated are India, China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. In the same determination, five of the 23 countries—Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burma (Myanmar), Colombia, and Venezuela — were identified as having “failed demonstrably to make substantial efforts” in the past 12 months to meet their obligations under international counternarcotics agreements.

The full list of the 23 countries includes: Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

According to the US State Department, placement on the Major’s List does not necessarily reflect on the level of cooperation by a government, nor its strength or dedication in law-enforcement against illicit drugs.

The determination is based on “a combination of geographic, commercial, and economic factors that allow drugs or precursor chemicals to be transited or produced,” even in countries where counter-narcotics efforts are active.

China was specifically called out in the document as being the “world’s largest source” of precursor chemicals used in the manufacture of fentanyl, and also implicated as a major supplier of chemicals for other synthetic narcotics including nitazenes and methamphetamine.

In the case of Afghanistan, the US statement notes that despite announcements by the Taliban banning narcotics, production continues and drug stockpiles remain.

Some members of the Taliban “continue to profit” from the trade, which the US says funds transnational criminal groups and supports international terrorism. Afghanistan was one of the countries labelled as having failed demonstrably.

The designation could carry diplomatic and financial consequences. Countries labelled as having failed their obligations might see adjustments in US foreign assistance. In past similar determinations, these designations have been linked to possible effects on aid or cooperation.