Trump Praises PM Modi’s Opium Crackdown as India Remains on US Drug List

US President Donald Trump has commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration for its measures targeting opium production, even as India continues to feature on Washington's roster of major illicit drug transit and producer nations. 

In an official release, the US Department of State conveyed the President's endorsement: "I welcome Prime Minister Modi and the Government of India's efforts to address illicit opium poppy cultivation and bolster supply chain integrity. I look forward to



continued cooperation through the United States-India Drug Policy Framework."

For the upcoming year 2027, the United States placed India alongside over 20 other nations on its designated inventory of major illicit drug-producing or transit countries. 

These include Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela, among others. American officials clarified that inclusion on the official list does not signify a failure by national governments to combat narcotics.