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1 1 (September 24, 2025)

handle is hein.crs/uhgyfd0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional e a Research Service Colombia's Antidrug Efforts and the Failed Demonstrably Designation September 24, 2025 On September 15, 2025, President Trump determined Colombia had failed demonstrably, for the first time in nearly 30 years, to meet its international counternarcotics obligations and to take the measures required by Section 489(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (hereafter FAA). This process is sometimes referred to as decertification. Pursuant to this designation, President Trump also determined, in accordance with Section 706(3)(A) of P.L. 107-228, that continuing U.S. assistance to Colombia in FY2026 is vital to U.S. national interests. Nevertheless, U.S. diplomatic disputes and drug policy differences with the government of President Gustavo Petro, whose political leadership the Presidential Determination faults for Colombia's failed counternarcotics efforts, could intensify. Congress may consider the impact of Colombia's designation on bilateral security and counternarcotics cooperation as it considers whether to fund FY2026 assistance in support of such efforts. Congress also may assess how the designation may affect U.S.-Colombia relations and political conditions in Colombia in the lead-up to a presidential election scheduled for May 2026. Designation and Assistance Restrictions Pursuant to 22 USC 2291j-1, the President is to report to Congress not later than September 15 of each year his determination on the list of major illicit drug producing and drug transit countries as defined in 22 USC 2291(e). The President's report also is to identify any such countries found during the previous 12 months to have failed demonstrably at making substantial efforts to counter illicit drugs by meeting the goals of and adhering to bilateral and international counternarcotics commitments, as well as taking legal and law enforcement measures to prevent and punish public corruption that facilitates illicit drug production and trafficking. Pursuant to 22 USC 2291j-1, countries determined by the President to have failed demonstrably in their counternarcotics efforts are barred from receiving certain U.S. assistance at the start of the following fiscal year, unless the President determines that provision of such aid is vital to the national interests of the United States. Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN12610 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress