President Trump Re-designates Costa Rica Among Major Drug Transit and Production Countries
President Trump has once again included Costa Rica on the U.S. list of major drug transit and illicit drug production countries for the fiscal year 2027. This designation, submitted to the U.S. Congress, places Costa Rica among 23 nations, a list that also features Afghanistan, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. This is not a new classification for Costa Rica, as it has been on this list continuously since September 2010, during the Obama administration. The determination clarifies that inclusion on this list does not necessarily reflect a country's anti-drug efforts or cooperation with the U.S., but rather a combination of geographical, commercial, and economic conditions that facilitate drug transit or chemical precursors. The document from the State Department emphasizes that a country can remain on the list even if its authorities implement...
