The U.S. Department of State issued warnings for travelers heading to 126 destinations, including 21 places where U.S. citizens should not travel.
Why It Matters
The State Department considers a variety of factors when issuing travel advisories, including crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health, likelihood of a natural disaster and current events.
What To Know
Travel advisories are reviewed by the State Department on a regular basis. The department reviews level 1 and level 2 advisories at least once a year, and level 3 and 4 advisories at least every six months.
Level 1 Advisories issued
The lowest advisory level for safety and security risk is level 1. Individuals who travel to countries with this designation are encouraged to exercise normal precautions. The State Department notes that there is some risk in any international travel and conditions can change at any time.
Level 2 Advisories issued
Travelers heading to a nation or region under a level 2 advisory are urged to exercise increased caution and be aware of heightened risks to safety and security.
The 80 countries and regions under a level 2 advisory are:
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Antarctica
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Cameroon
Chile
China
Comoros
Costa Rica
Cote d'Ivoire
Cuba
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Eswatini
France
Gabon
Germany
Ghana
Greenland
Guinea
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Italy
Jordan
Kenya
Kosovo
Laos
Lesotho
Liberia
Madagascar
Malawi
Maldives
Moldova
Morrocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
Oman
Panama
Peru
Philippines
Republic of the Congo
Rwanda
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Solomon Island
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Tajikistan
Tanzania
The Bahamas
The Gambia
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tunisia
Turkey
Turks and Caicos
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Zimbabwe
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Level 3 Advisories issued
A level 3 designation advises individuals to reconsider travel due to serious risks to safety and security.
The 23 countries and regions under a level 3 advisory are:
Bangladesh
Burundi
Chad
Colombia
Egypt
Ethiopia
Guatemala
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Honduras
Jamaica
Macau
Mauritania
Mozambique
New Caledonia
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Trinidad and Tobago
Uganda
Vanuatu
Level 4 Advisories issued
A level 4 travel advisory urges U.S. citizens not to travel to a nation or region. It is the highest advisory level issued by the State Department and indicates a greater likelihood of life-threatening risks.
The 21 countries and regions under a level 4 advisory are:
Afghanistan
Belarus
Burkina Faso
Burma (Myanmar)
Central African Republic
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Haiti
Iran
Iraq
Lebanon
Libya
Mali
North Korea
Russia
Somalia
South Sudan
Sudan
Syria
Ukraine
Venezuela
Yemen
Other advisories issued
Mexico and Israel both have special designations that advise travelers of the varying conditions throughout the nations.
Travelers going to Mexico's Campeche state or Yucatan state can exercise normal precautions. Individuals should exercise increased caution when traveling to the following states and regions: Aguascalientes, Baja California Sur, Coahuila, Durango, Hidalgo, Mexico City, Mexico State, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Tabasco, Tlaxcala and Veracruz.
States that individuals should reconsider travel to are Baja California, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos and Sonora. Individuals are urged not to travel to Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas states.
Individuals should reconsider travel to Israel and West Bank, and not travel to Gaza.
What People Are Saying
The State Department, on its website: "Travel Advisories represent our commitment to protect U.S. citizens abroad. We provide important safety and security information so that travelers can make informed decisions when deciding to take a trip abroad."
What Happens Next
Travelers can access safety and security information on the State Department's Country Information page for their intended destination. The page includes the travel advisory and any alerts for that nation or region. It also covers local laws, health, transportation and other topics.
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