Trump Praises India's Poppy Crackdown, But Lists It Among 23 Drug Transit Nations

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, in a Presidential Determination to the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to curb illicit poppy cultivation in India.

However, in the same directive, Trump identified India, China, and Pakistan among 23 major drug transit and illicit drug-producing countries, urging their respective leaders to address the ongoing issue.

Trump expressed his anticipation for continued collaboration through the United States-India Drug Policy Framework, specifically stating,

I welcome Prime Minister Modi and the Government of India’s efforts to address illicit opium poppy cultivation and bolster supply chain integrity.

He clarified that inclusion on this list does not necessarily reflect negatively on a government’s current counterdrug efforts or its cooperation with the U.S. The Presidential Determination explains that countries are placed on this list due to a combination of geographic, commercial, and economic factors that facilitate drug or precursor chemical transit or production, even if their governments are diligently engaged in narcotics control.

The comprehensive list of identified major drug transit or illicit drug-producing countries also includes 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 also highlighted what he described as "historic progress" made during his administration in combating drug trafficking and narcoterrorist organizations. He cited tighter border security, a significant reduction in drug seizures, and a decline in overdose deaths as proof of these advancements.

He claimed that after what he called "four years of open border chaos," seizures of fentanyl and other drugs along the U.S. southern border had been reduced by more than half, and drug overdose deaths had "plunged," saving "tens of thousands of American lives."

Furthermore, Trump called upon China to intensify its actions against the flow of precursor chemicals, which are crucial for producing fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other synthetic drugs.

He noted that the People's Republic of China (PRC) remains the world's largest producer of many such chemicals.

Trump revealed that he had directly discussed this matter with Chinese President Xi Jinping, acknowledging Beijing's previous introduction of licensing requirements for companies exporting designated precursor chemicals to North America.

#USIndiaRelations #DrugPolicy #GlobalSecurity