Trump Designates India Major Drug Transit Nation, Praises Modi Efforts

President Donald Trump has designated India among 23 countries as a major drug transit or illicit drug-producing nation for fiscal year 2027, while simultaneously praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government for its counternarcotics efforts. The designation, made in a Presidential Determination submitted to Congress on September 15, 2026, and made public on September 16, clarifies that inclusion on the list does not necessarily reflect a government's current counterdrug performance or coordination with the United States. In the determination, Trump stated, "I welcome Prime Minister Modi and the Government of India's efforts to address illicit opium poppy cultivation and bolster supply chain integrity." He added that he looks forward to continued cooperation through the United States-India Drug Policy Framework. The document explains that countries are placed on the list due to a combination of geographic, commercial, and economic factors that allow drugs or precursor chemicals to be produced or transported through their territory, even if authorities are engaged in robust enforcement.