ExecutiveOrdersEO
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Presidential Determination

Presidential Determination on Major Drug Transit or Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries for Fiscal Year 2019

This annual determination identifies 22 countries as major drug transit or illicit drug producing countries for FY 2019 under the Foreign Relations Authorization Act. It specifically designates Bolivia and Venezuela as having "failed demonstrably" to meet international counternarcotics obligations, includes democracy-promotion justifications for Venezuela, and expresses deep concern about record-level illicit drug crops in Colombia, Mexico, and Afghanistan.

Federal Register Open PDF 83 FR 50239

Impact dates

  1. Submission to Congress and Federal Register publication

Key directives

  • Identify 22 countries as major drug transit or major illicit drug producing countries
  • Designate Bolivia and Venezuela as having failed demonstrably to adhere to international counternarcotics obligations
  • Determine democracy promotion programs in Venezuela vital to U.S. national interests
  • Submit designation with Bolivia and Venezuela memoranda of justification to Congress
  • Publish determination in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Designation of 22 countries on major drug transit/producing list
  • Bolivia and Venezuela designated as failing demonstrably on counternarcotics
  • Democracy program support for Venezuela justified as vital to U.S. national interests

Near term (90d)

  • Submission of determination and Bolivia/Venezuela justifications to Congress
  • Federal Register publication

Long term

  • Potential sanctions or withholding of assistance for Bolivia and Venezuela
  • Continued U.S. support for international counternarcotics efforts
  • Expected 'significant and measurable results' from Colombia, Mexico, Afghanistan on crop eradication and trafficking reduction

Risks & tensions

  • Venezuela designation combines counternarcotics failure with democracy promotion, potentially blurring statutory frameworks
  • Deep concern about record crop levels in Colombia, Mexico, Afghanistan may presage pressure for more aggressive eradication or policy shifts
  • Democracy program justification for Venezuela may be used to circumvent normal foreign assistance restrictions
  • Document urges 'immediate' and 'coming year' results but lacks specific enforcement mechanisms or consequences beyond designation
Presidential Determination: Presidential Determination on Major Drug Transit or Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries for Fiscal Year 2019 · Executive Orders