Newsweek has created a map indicating where in Europe the U.S. has travel warnings in place, which shows Romania and Bulgaria listed in the safest category but Sweden and the Netherlands in the same travel advisory category as Kosovo.
Why It Matters
While many of America’s travel advisories for Europe have been in place for longer than the current administration, recent weeks have seen a growing number of European countries issue travel warnings for their citizens traveling to the U.S.
Earlier this month, Germany, the United Kingdom, Finland and Denmark all revised their official guidance, saying that entry into the U.S. is not guaranteed and that travelers may face increased scrutiny at the border.
Such notices are not necessarily uncommon, but they come amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, with President Donald Trump issuing the EU with an ultimatum, along with Canada, warning that they will face “large scale tariffs” if they do economic harm to the U.S.
There are also fears that Trump could pull the U.S. out of NATO, or significantly reduce U.S. contribution, with the European Commission telling European households to stockpile 72 hours’ worth of essentials.
What To Know
Ukraine and Belarus are the only countries that are under a Level 4 “do not travel” advisory, while no countries are currently listed in the Level 3 “reconsider travel” category.
Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo and Moldova are under a Level 2 “exercise increased caution” advisory.
Iceland, Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, Malta, Czechia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Andorra, Estonia, Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Finland and Norway are all under a Level 1 “exercise normal precautions.”
It is important to note that most of these advisories have been in place for longer than the Trump administration, meaning they will have nothing to do with the current tensions.
For example, the Level 2 advisory for the United Kingdom was issued last September because of terrorism concerns.
“Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in the United Kingdom,” the advisory says. “There is also a risk of isolated violence by dissident groups in Northern Ireland, focused primarily on police and military targets.”
The only advisories that have been issued since Trump took office on January 20 are Andorra (Level 1 – March 25), Norway (Level 1 – February 3) and Portugal (Level 1 – March 3).
What People Are Saying
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said in a statement on Tuesday: “Two-thirds of Europeans want the EU to play a greater role in their protection. This is a clear call for action which we will answer. Europe needs to be stronger so that our citizens feel safer. The European Parliament will ensure that every proposal put forward is bold and ambitious enough to match the serious level of threat Europe faces. Europe must step up today, or it risks being stepped over tomorrow.”
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday: “If the European Union works with Canada in order to do economic harm to the USA, large scale Tariffs, far larger than currently planned, will be placed on them both in order to protect the best friend that each of those two countries has ever had!”
What Happens Next
The fallout of the rift between the U.S. and Europe remains to be seen. Trump’s new auto tariffs are set to go into effect on April 3.
