Travel Advisory: French Government Warns Citizens Against Visiting Venezuela

The French Government has issued a travel advisory, strongly recommending that its citizens avoid trips to Venezuela due to the escalating tensions following the presidential elections in the country. The only exceptions are trips deemed necessary due to force majeure.

The warning was published by the crisis and support center of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following an announcement by Diosdado Cabello, Minister of Interior and Justice, regarding the arrest of two Spanish citizens, three Americans, and a Czech national. These individuals are accused of participating in an operation to destabilize the country.

French nationals currently in Venezuela are advised to exercise extreme caution. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that they avoid any political demonstrations and refrain from commenting on the Venezuelan political situation in public places. It is also essential to stay informed about the local security situation and avoid any actions that could be perceived as taking a political stance.

The detained Spanish citizens, José María Basoa Valdovinos and Andrés Martínez Adasme, were reportedly in the country for tourism purposes, according to their relatives.

Both the Spanish and American governments have denied any involvement in a campaign to overthrow the current president, Nicolás Maduro.

Venezuela has been considered a high-risk destination since 2019, with the United States categorizing it as a Level 4: Do Not Travel country. Other countries on this list include Afghanistan, Belarus, and Haiti.