WASHINGTON. The United States authorities have decided to reduce to Level 3 travel warning to Venezuelaalleging that risk indicators such as “unjustified detention” were eliminated in the Latin American country, since January directed by the former ‘number two’ of the ruler, Nicolás Maduro, Delcy Rodríguez.
This level means: “reconsider your trip.”
He State Department has published a new notice for US citizens who want to travel to Venezuela, also citing the absence of the risk of “riots” and “others”, without giving more details about the latter.
Despite this, the diplomatic portfolio has added new “higher risk” areas in Venezuela, including its border with Colombia, and the states of Amazonas, Apure, Aragua, Bolívar, Guárico and Táchira, most of them due to “risk of crime, kidnappings and terrorism”, which is why it urges not to travel to these places.
“While the situation is improving, conditions in some parts of Venezuela remain dangerous. Violent crimes such as homicides, armed robberies and kidnappings occur,” explains a statement from the State Department.
The text warns that the “terrorist” groups Tren de Aragua and Cartel de los Soles, originally from Venezuela, continue to operate in the country, and that, in general terms, different violent gangs operate in border areas with Colombia, Brazil and Guyana.
The risk of using unregulated taxis from the Simón Bolívar Airport in Maiquetía, which serves Caracas, and using ATMs near the airfield is also highlighted.
The State Department insists that “traveling at night between cities, or between the Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía and Caracas, is risky.”
The agency has framed this update of the travel alert in “the changes in the operations of the United States Embassy” in Venezuela, closed since 2019. In fact, the Venezuelan Affairs Unit, located in the Embassy in Bogotá, will continue with its functions until the full resumption of the activities of the US diplomatic legation in the Venezuelan capital.
The State Department also reminds its citizens that a visa is required to enter Venezuela, and that visas are not available upon arrival.
The announcement comes amid the gradual thawing of relations between Washington and Caracas since the United States Army launched an attack on Caracas on January 3 and captured Maduro along with his wife, Cilia Flores, who have since remained in a New York prison.
