US Authority Issues Strong ‘Do Not Travel’ Warning for this Caribbean Nation

The United States has doubled down on its advisory, urging citizens to avoid travelling to Venezuela due to escalating civil unrest and a deteriorating security situation.

In its most severe travel advisory, the Department of State emphasized the government’s inability to provide emergency services to distressed American travellers.

Officials cited the country’s slide toward dictatorship, ongoing threats of terrorism, and pervasive anti-American sentiment as reasons for the heightened warning. Violent crimes, including homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking, are rampant in Venezuela, the agency cautioned.

Don’t even go there.

Venezuela is under the most severe travel warning the U.S. Department of State can issue.AFP via Getty Imagescumstances, the U.S. government advises travellers to establish a “proof of life” protocol with their loved ones before visiting Venezuela. This protocol helps ensure communication in case of a hostage situation, a scenario that poses a significant risk to U.S. nationals in the country.

The Department of State highlighted the high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. citizens in Venezuela, noting instances where security forces detained Americans for extended periods without proper notification or access to consular assistance.

The political climate in Venezuela is a significant factor

The travel warning marks a substantial shift from previous years when hundreds of thousands of Americans visited Venezuela annually to explore its pristine Caribbean coastline and islands. However, political developments and deteriorating security under Nicolás Maduro’s regime have sharply declined tourist numbers.

The warning underscores Maduro’s controversial rise to power following an election marred by accusations of rigging. The U.S. government condemns Maduro’s authoritarian tactics and his alignment with repressive regimes such as Cuba, Russia, Iran, and China.

Americans are especially at risk in Venezuelan areas like Caracas

Ahead of an upcoming election in July, tensions are running high in Venezuela, with frequent political rallies and demonstrations often met with a heavy-handed response from security forces. The situation sometimes escalates into looting and vandalism, exacerbating the precarious security environment.

In addition to political instability, Venezuela is grappling with severe shortages of essential commodities like water, gasoline, electricity, and medicine, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The presence of active terror groups in border regions, particularly from neighbouring Colombia, compounds the country’s security challenges.