In a recent memorandum to Congress, President Donald Trump identified 22 countries worldwide as major drug transit or illicit drug-producing nations for Fiscal Year 2026. Among them are four Caribbean Community (CARICOM) members: The Bahamas, Belize, Haiti, and Jamaica.

The designation, mandated under the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, highlights nations significantly involved in the production or trafficking of illegal drugs impacting the United States. These substances include cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine.

The full list of countries named in the report includes: Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

For the Caribbean, geography continues to play a key role. The Bahamas is described as a major transit hub for cocaine and marijuana moving from South America and the Caribbean toward the U.S. Similar concerns apply to Belize, Haiti, and Jamaica, where proximity to producing regions facilitates trafficking routes. Despite these challenges, authorities in these nations continue to coordinate closely with U.S. counterparts, leading to notable drug seizures and joint enforcement actions.

Importantly, the memorandum clarifies that inclusion on the list does not automatically result in sanctions. No countries were “decertified” for lack of cooperation, meaning the U.S. acknowledges ongoing efforts to counter drug trafficking. Instead, the designation reflects the scale of the issue and reinforces the need for continued international collaboration in the face of evolving threats, particularly the rise of synthetic opioids from sources like China.

This annual determination underscores the complexity of global drug flows and the continued importance of regional and bilateral strategies in reducing their impact.