Trump designates India major drug transit nation but praises Modi's anti-narcotics efforts

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a Presidential Determination to Congress identifying 23 countries as major drug transit or illicit drug producing nations, a list that includes India, China and Pakistan, while simultaneously praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government for its work against illegal opium poppy cultivation.

Presidential directive singles out India for praise

In the official directive made public on Wednesday, Trump specifically acknowledged New Delhi's counterdrug measures, stating: "I welcome Prime Minister Modi and the Government of India's efforts to address illicit opium poppy cultivation and bolster supply chain integrity". The U.S. President said he looks forward to continued cooperation through the United States-India Drug Policy Framework.

Trump clarified that inclusion on the list does not necessarily reflect a government's current counterdrug efforts or its level of coordination with Washington. According to the Presidential Determination, countries are placed on the list as required by U.S. law because of a combination of geographic, commercial and economic factors that allow drugs or precursor chemicals to transit or be produced, even when a government has engaged in robust and diligent narcotics control and law enforcement measures.

Twenty-three nations identified in annual assessment

Beyond India, China and Pakistan, the other major drug transit or major illicit drug producing countries identified in the determination are Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.

Trump used the Presidential Determination to highlight what he described as "historic progress" made by his administration in tackling drug trafficking and narcoterrorist organisations. He pointed to tighter border security, lower drug seizures and a decline in overdose deaths as evidence of this progress.

Administration claims drop in border seizures, overdose deaths

"After four years of open border chaos, seizures of fentanyl and other drugs being smuggled into the United States have been reduced by more than half, and drug overdose deaths have plunged," Trump said in the directive. He claimed drug seizures along the U.S. southern border had dropped by more than half after what he called four years of "open border chaos". Trump also asserted that the administration had saved tens of thousands of American lives.

Trump presses China on precursor chemical exports

The U.S. President devoted particular attention to China's role in the global synthetic drug supply chain, urging Beijing to take stronger action to stem the flow of precursor chemicals used to produce fentanyl, methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs. "The PRC continues to be the world's largest producer of many of the precursor chemicals used to illicitly produce fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other deadly synthetic drugs," Trump said, referring to China by its official designation, the People's Republic of China.

Trump said he had raised the issue directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He noted that Beijing had introduced licensing requirements for companies exporting designated precursor chemicals to North America, a step taken last year.

The Presidential Determination was issued on September 16, 2026.

Source: The Hindu