U.S. Issues 'Level 3' Travel Warning For Caribbean Country

The United States has issued a travel warning asking its citizens to reconsider traveling to one particular country in the Caribbean as a result of crime and the threat of terrorism, and kidnapping.

On Wednesday, May 7, the United States Department of State issued a "Level 3" travel advisory for the nation of Trinidad and Tobago, warning citizens to "reconsider travel" to the country.

"Reconsider travel to Trinidad and Tobago due to serious risks from crime. There are also heightened risks of terrorism and kidnapping," the state department wrote in its advisory on Wednesday.

"Gang activity, such as narcotics trafficking, is common. A significant portion of violent crime is gang-related."

"Foreigners and a U.S. lawful permanent resident have been recent victims of kidnapping," the statement continued.

"There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Trinidad and Tobago," the statement warned. "Terrorists may attack with little or no warning."

The United States Department of State has a thorough list of "Travel Advisories" that offers information about possible dangers of traveling to various countries. Those "travel warnings" are split into four categories, ranked level 1 through level 4 with the fourth category being the most severe.

A Level 1 travel advisory tells travelers to "Exercise Normal Precautions." It is issued for many popular tourist spots to remind travelers to remain cautious, even without any specific threats.

A Level 2 travel advisory, meanwhile, warns travelers to "Exercise Increased Caution." This level is typically issued to areas lacking immediate threats or dangers but where crime rates are high, civil unrest is present, or the region is frequently targeted by possible terrorist attacks.

A Level 3 travel advisory is a more serious concern, urging travelers to "Reconsider Travel" to nations that are considered inherently risky due to dangers such as crime, civil unrest, or terrorism.

A Level 4 travel advisory is the most severe alert for travelers, warning them to simply "Do Not Travel" to the destination. Such warnings are typically issued for countries embroiled in active armed conflicts, those hostile to the United States, or nations with minimal or no diplomatic ties to the United States.

Given that the Trinidad and Tobago advisory is a Level 3 advisory, it may not be the most severe, but it should certainly be treated seriously.