The Biden administration has issued a travel advisory on Russia calling all American citizens to leave immediately to avoid “unpredictable consequences.”
The State Department issued the advisory on Monday and set it at the highest level of “Do Not Travel.” Why the State Department has waited this long to upgrade the travel advisory is a mystery but it could have to do with Joe Biden’s impending visit to Poland.
The advisory reads, “U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Russia should depart immediately. Exercise increased caution due to the risk of wrongful detentions.”
Could President Biden be planning something big and announce it during his trip to Poland? While it seems unlikely we are getting involved directly in the war, perhaps Biden is planning some kind of escalation that will endanger any Americans in Russia.
Not safe for Americans
Russia hasn’t been safe for Americans to travel to for some time. The detention of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was arrested before the war in Ukraine began, highlighted just how problematic travel to Russia is for Americans.
Griner was arrested for a relatively minor drug offense which landed her an insane nine-year prison sentence. Griner received so little leniency because of her citizenship and the value she represented to the Kremlin.
Russia managed to trade Griner back in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, a figure so notorious he earned the nickname “Merchant of Death.”
Needless to say, the trade was massively lopsided and regular Americans may not be so lucky if they find themselves in the custody of a hostile nation.
Americans with any diplomatic value should not be in Russia as they could give the Kremlin leverage in any future negotiations as the war in Ukraine drags on and the U.S. continues to supply billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine.
No end in sight
President Biden will be visiting Poland next week to meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda. It is expected there will be a discussion about how the U.S. and Poland will work to aid Ukraine as the war drags on past the one-year mark.
John Kirby, the spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, stated that “The President will make it very clear that the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
The United States sent nearly $50 billion to Ukraine in 2022 at a time when the United States is feeling the effects of record inflation and skyrocketing debt.
Many are questioning just how sustainable it is to support Ukraine in what is fast becoming a proxy war between the United States and Russia.
Worse, some believe that U.S. intervention has prolonged a conflict that could have ended quickly without Ukraine’s defeat. All speculation aside, it is imperative that Americans not put themselves at the mercy of a hostile foreign power.
