The German Foreign Ministry has considerably eased the travel warning that was issued for Venezuela shortly after the U.S. incursion at the start of the year. Since Monday, the warning no longer applies to the whole country but only to specific regions. It still advises against travel to the Venezuelan states that share a border with Colombia. For the rest of Venezuela – including areas such as the city of Maracaibo, as well as Brazil and Guyana – the ministry now gives only a general recommendation to refrain from traveling.
The decision comes after events on 3 January when U.S. forces carried out airstrikes in Caracas and other parts of the country, and President Nicolás Maduro was removed from the country by U.S. troops. According to the German Foreign Ministry, the security situation in Venezuela has since largely stabilised.
International airlines have begun to resume some operations. However, the ministry warns that politically aligned militias known as “Colectivos” remain active and frequently armed.
