US President Donald Trump has designated China, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and 19 other nations as major sources of drug transit or illicit drug production, warning that these activities jeopardize the safety of the United States. In a Presidential Determination submitted to Congress, Trump outlined these countries as part of the “Major’s List,” highlighting their roles in the sourcing and trafficking of illicit drugs into the US.
The White House reported that this list aims to inform Congress about countries facilitating drug flows. The State Department clarified that inclusion in this list does not necessarily imply cooperation or significant counternarcotics efforts from these governments. Instead, it is based on a combination of geographic, commercial, and economic factors that enable drug production and transportation.
The countries identified are:
- Afghanistan
- The Bahamas
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Burma
- China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Jamaica
- Laos
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Pakistan
- Panama
- Peru
- Venezuela
Of particular concern are five countries—Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, and Venezuela—that the State Department indicated have “failed demonstrably” to make substantial efforts to fulfill international counternarcotics obligations. The agency added that the designation relies on various factors enabling drug flows, rather than reflecting a government’s counterdrug actions or degree of cooperation with the US.
Trump specifically admonished China, labeling it as the “world’s largest source” of precursor chemicals used in producing illicit fentanyl. He urged Chinese authorities to take more decisive measures to curb these chemical flows and to prosecute those involved in trafficking.
Regarding Afghanistan, Trump noted that despite the Taliban’s proclaimed ban on drugs, the production and stockpiling of narcotics have continued unabated. He stated, “Revenue from this drug trade funds transnational criminal groups and supports international terrorists. Some members of the Taliban continue to profit from this trade,” reaffirming Afghanistan’s designation for failing in drug control obligations.
Trump characterized the trafficking of fentanyl and other deadly drugs as a national emergency, emphasizing that it has led to a public health crisis and is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 44.