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Presidential Determination

Presidential Determination on Major Illicit Drug Transit or Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries for Fiscal Year 2011

This annual determination identifies 20 countries as major illicit drug transit or producing countries for FY2011, including Afghanistan, Mexico, and Colombia. It specifically designates Bolivia, Burma, and Venezuela as having "failed demonstrably" to meet international counternarcotics obligations, while exempting Bolivia and limited Venezuela programs from sanctions based on national interest determinations. The accompanying report details country-specific narcotics challenges and U.S. policy responses across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Federal Register Open PDF 75 FR 67019

Impact dates

  1. Annual determination applicable for Fiscal Year 2011

Key directives

  • Identify Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela as major drug transit or producing countries
  • Designate Bolivia, Burma, and Venezuela as having failed demonstrably to adhere to international counternarcotics obligations
  • Determine continued bilateral support for Bolivia and limited programs in Venezuela as vital to U.S. national interests
  • Submit determination to Congress and publish in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Designation of 20 countries on Majors List takes effect for FY2011
  • Bolivia, Burma, Venezuela subject to potential aid sanctions
  • Bolivia and Venezuela national interest exemptions apply

Near term (90d)

  • Congressional notification and Federal Register publication
  • Implementation of conditional aid restrictions for Burma

Long term

  • Ongoing counternarcotics cooperation requirements for aid eligibility
  • Annual review cycle for future determinations

Risks & tensions

  • Tension between sanctions designation and national interest exemptions for Bolivia/Venezuela may dilute enforcement leverage
  • Vague 'soon' timeline for Pakistan's opium poppy-free status lacks concrete accountability
  • Afghanistan assessment acknowledges progress but emphasizes insurgency-corruption-narcotics nexus remains unresolved
  • Document notes Brazil's exclusion from Majors List despite serious trafficking concerns due to technical threshold criteria
Presidential Determination: Presidential Determination on Major Illicit Drug Transit or Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries for Fiscal Year 2011 · Executive Orders