Trump welcomes PM Modi's efforts against opium as India among US' list of ‘major illicit drug producing countries’

United States President Donald Trump expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to combat opium cultivation, noting that India was among the US's list of "major illicit drug producing countries." The US included a total of 23 countries on the list, which also featured Pakistan and China. The inclusion of these nations was based on their status as "major drug transit" or "major illicit drug producing" nations, attributed to factors such as geography, commerce, and economic conditions that facilitate drug trafficking or production.

Trump highlighted his administration's "historic progress" in combating drug trafficking and narcoterrorist organizations, citing achievements like tighter border security, reduced drug seizures, and lower overdose deaths. He further emphasized the success in apprehending narcoterrorists and making significant drug seizures, asserting that the US was "just getting started" in this fight.

The list, which included a broader range of countries beyond India, Pakistan, and China, was not a direct reflection of each nation's drug control efforts but rather a consequence of various commercial and geographic factors enabling illicit drug activities.