US Removes Venezuela from Narco List, Hints at Colombia's 2027 Chance

The Trump administration has removed Venezuela from its list of countries that have 'failed demonstrably' to meet international counternarcotics obligations. This decision is seen as a diplomatic reward for the post-Maduro government's cooperation against drug trafficking organizations.

The move, announced on September 16 as part of the annual Presidential Determination, signals a broader thaw in US-Venezuelan relations that could reshape the geopolitical landscape across Latin America.

Venezuela's removal from the list is directly tied to the political upheaval that followed Nicolás Maduro's ousting in January. The interim government under President Delcy Rodríguez has apparently made enough progress, particularly against the Tren de Aragua criminal network, to convince Washington that cooperation is genuine.

Colombia, however, wasn't so lucky. It stayed on the list for the second consecutive year, though President Trump dangled the possibility of removal in 2027 if the country's new leadership delivers measurable results against coca cultivation and trafficking networks.