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DetDeterminationObama · D Quiet signal

Presidential Determination

Presidential Determination on Major Drug Transit or Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries for Fiscal Year 2014

This annual determination identifies 22 countries as major drug transit or illicit drug producing countries for FY 2014, and designates Bolivia, Burma, and Venezuela as having 'failed demonstrably' to meet international counternarcotics obligations. The President also determines that continuing assistance to Burma and Venezuela is vital to U.S. national interests, allowing aid to flow despite the negative designation. The document includes extensive regional analysis of drug trafficking trends in Afghanistan, the Caribbean, Central America, and West Africa.

Federal Register Open PDF 78 FR 58855

Impact dates

  1. Determination signed and effective

  2. Previous 12-month period for 'failed demonstrably' assessment

Key directives

  • Identify Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela as major drug transit and/or major illicit drug producing countries
  • Designate Bolivia, Burma, and Venezuela as having 'failed demonstrably' during previous 12 months
  • Determine that support for programs to aid Burma and Venezuela is vital to U.S. national interests
  • Submit determination with justifications to Congress
  • Publish determination in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Designation of 22 countries on major drug transit/producer list
  • 'Failed demonstrably' designation for Bolivia, Burma, Venezuela
  • National interest determination to allow continued assistance to Burma and Venezuela
  • Submission to Congress and Federal Register publication

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

  • FY 2014 foreign assistance allocations affected by designations
  • Continued CARSI and CBSI program implementation
  • Afghanistan counternarcotics programs through 2014 international force withdrawal
  • West Africa Cooperative Security Initiative $50 million disbursement

Risks & tensions

  • Designation of Bolivia, Burma, Venezuela may strain bilateral relations despite national interest waiver for two of three
  • Afghanistan instability and 2014 international withdrawal threaten counternarcotics gains
  • Caribbean trafficking increase (5% to 9% of U.S.-bound cocaine) signals growing vulnerability
  • West Africa emerging as new transit hub without being formally listed, creating policy gap
Presidential Determination: Presidential Determination on Major Drug Transit or Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries for Fiscal Year 2014 · Executive Orders