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Forbes
a day ago
- Forbes
Travel Just Got Riskier: How To Stay Safe In A Dangerous World
How do you travel safely at a time like this? getty Deborah Kaminetzky was canoeing through Peru's Amazon rainforest last week when the bombs started falling in Iran. She wondered about her return trip to the U.S. "I've discussed ways to get back to the U.S. should airspace be closed down," she says. The leading contender: Booking a cheap cruise through the Panama Canal and coming home by sea. Her backup plan wasn't paranoia, even though the Middle East is far away from South America. It was preparation. Days earlier, Iran's bombing had escalated global tensions, potentially throwing trips like hers into disarray. Kaminetzky, an IT project management consultant from Woodmere, NY, says she felt safe in South America, but the prospect of returning to the U.S. with the world on edge puts her on edge. "I'm watching the skies," she adds. Travel isn't as safe as it used to be It's not your imagination. Travel just got a little riskier. A U.S. State Department worldwide advisory now urges Americans to exercise increased caution abroad. Rising crime, protests, and retaliatory threats have turned once-benign destinations into potential flashpoints. "Yes, travel is more dangerous right now," says John Gobbels, chief operating officer of Medjet, a medical transport and security response program for travelers. But dangerous how ? In the past, many destinations had specific, well-known risks that travelers could prepare for, according to Frank Harrison, regional security director for the Americas at World Travel Protection. "Today, the risks are more complex," he adds. "They're often layered, ambiguous, and harder to spot. This makes travel potentially more dangerous, especially for those who are unaware of these evolving challenges." What are travelers afraid of? Nearly half (47 percent) of travelers surveyed by Squaremouth expect flight delays and disruptions to be worse this year than in years past, signaling growing concern ahead of the busy summer season. "Growing unpredictability is fueling anxiety among travelers," says Squaremouth spokesman Ned Tadic. The latest Global Rescue Summer 2025 Traveler Safety and Sentiment Survey finds over 80 percent of travelers say they are either "very concerned" (28 percent) or "somewhat concerned" (55 percent) that instability could still affect travel through the end of 2025. "While the ceasefire has brought a measure of relief, it has not fully restored traveler confidence," says Global Rescue spokesman Bill McIntyre. Where are the new danger zones? I asked security experts, insurers, and seasoned globetrotters to help identify the dangerous places for travelers. Their advice: Rethink where you go, how you get there, and what you buy. Don't go here. There are a few Middle East destinations that shouldn't be on your list now, according to Gobbels. He recommends avoiding the Gulf states, including Oman, UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain. Obviously, Israel and Iran are off-limits during any conflict. He's also concerned about conflict erupting between Taiwan and China. If things take a turn for the worse there, you might want to reroute your trip to Hong Kong. Level 4 "Do Not Travel" countries, such as Iran, Russia, and Haiti, are no-gos, but Level 3 spots like Egypt also warrant scrutiny. "Even Level 2 countries have Level 4 zones," he warned, citing India's border with Pakistan. The touristy areas. Valerie Bowden, a frequent traveler who runs an outsourcing agency, says it's not just the country, but also the location. For example, the anti-tourism protests in France make touristy areas particularly vulnerable. She's avoiding popular museums in Paris this summer. "I've never been more hesitant to travel as an American than I am now," she adds. (And don't forget Spain, where they're squirting tourists with water pistols.) Even the borders can be dangerous. Rob Housman, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney and national security expert, says many travelers are getting snagged at the border, coming back into the United States. His advice: Disable biometric identification on your phone. "That way, the CBP can't use your eye or finger to access your phone," he says. He says the government has been reviewing users' social media, and you could get detained if you've posted something objectionable. Housan also recommends using privacy apps for email and other communication, which are more difficult for agents to access. How do you travel safer this summer? But experts say you can still travel this summer without incurring unnecessary risks. Monitor your whole itinerary. Arthur Harris, a security consultant, just rerouted clients from Dubai to Frankfurt after Gulf airspace closures stranded passengers. He says it's important to review your entire itinerary for security vulnerabilities. Check for connections in major hubs that could be vulnerable, such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai or Doha. "Watch your entire itinerary — not just the destination," he stressed. "A connection in a shutdown zone can wreck your trip." How about travel insurance? War or acts of war have generally been excluded from coverage for standard travel insurance policies, according to Terry Boynton, president of Yonder Travel Insurance. "And since the war and conflict in Israel have been ongoing since 2023, any claims related to those events likely won't be covered." Pro tip: If you're heading somewhere with growing tensions or just feeling uneasy, purchase a plan with 'cancel for any reason' benefits. "It lets you cancel for reasons outside the standard list and still get some of your money back,' says Wendy Stahl, travel insurance product director at AXA Partners US. Get help. A travel advisor can help you monitor your trip and recommend changes you need to make for a safer trip. Your travel insurance policy can also help. For example, Allianz Travel Insurance has a mobile app called Allyz with destination-specific safety and security alerts that will warn you about known risks at your destination. The app and the alerts are free for anyone to download and use. "When travel is unavoidable or catastrophe strikes while you're traveling, there are ways to mitigate your safety risk and ensure you're able to continue with your trip or return home when it's safe to do so," says Daniel Durazo, a spokesman for Allianz. Speaking of insurance, is it too late to get coverage if you've already booked your trip? Not necessarily, says Will Nihan, president of Travelex Insurance Services. 'If you've already booked your trip, it's not too late to purchase travel insurance with coverage for events such as terrorism," he explains. "However, you must purchase your policy before the event becomes foreseeable to be eligible for coverage. It's a good practice to review the policy details thoroughly before you buy to understand any limitations.' When should you bail out on your trip? I asked several travel experts when they'd cancel a trip. The consensus: If the State Department declares your destination a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" country. If an airspace closure at your destination lasts more than 48 hours. If there's no safe way to reroute you through a different airport, land, or sea route. But don't be too trigger-happy with a cancellation, advises Leigh Matthews, a therapist in Barcelona who has worked with thousands of nervous travelers. "My advice is to separate media-driven fear from actual risk assessment," he says. "Check government travel advisories for your specific destinations, not general news coverage. If you're genuinely concerned, adjust your itinerary rather than canceling entirely. Psychological preparation and having backup plans reduce anxiety more effectively than avoidance." My advice on traveling during an uncertain time I'm on the road constantly — in fact, I'm writing this on a plane between Okinawa and Seoul — and I think a certain amount of anxiety is to be expected at a time like this. But I've heard all kinds of overly cautious advice. For example, some experts have told me to avoid Turkey and Cyprus, which is absurd. Cyprus is on my itinerary in a few months, and I visited Turkey last fall. Another thing I've noticed: A lot of travelers are trying to invoke their own fears and new State Department warnings to get a refund on a nonrefundable airline ticket. But that's not how it works. An airline has to cancel your flight for you to be eligible for a refund, or you can file a claim on your "cancel for any reason" travel insurance policy, if you have one. All of which brings me to my advice, which is to stick to your plans. You'll know when it's too dangerous to travel. The airport will close, your hotels will shutter, you won't be able to rent a car. Don't let tourism protests deter you, because if you're reading this story, I can already tell you that you're not one of those tourists. You'll be fine. "It's important to remember that no travel destination is entirely safe," says Susan Sherren, founder of luxury travel agency Couture Trips. A proactive mindset is essential in today's unpredictable travel climate. Oh, and what about Kaminetzky, the IT consultant from New York? She got back to the States just fine. Apart from a brief delay, her flight home was uneventful. No one interrogated her at the airport. And she's already planning her next vacation — to a safe destination, of course.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Trump praises Nato leaders' ‘historic' agreement to hike defence spending
European leaders in Nato have agreed to a historic 5 per cent increase in defence spending and have praised Donald Trump for driving the uplift. Nato secretary general Mark Rutte fawed over the US president and praised him for intervening in the conflict between Iran and Israel, comparing him to a 'daddy' figure stuck between the two warring Middle Eastern parties. He described Mr Trump as 'a man of strength' after he piled pressure on allies to put more money into their own defence amid the backdrop of worsening global tensions and the war in Ukraine. The new spending pledge - which will comprise 3.5 per cent spending on core defence by 2035, and 1.5 per cent on security and resilience measures - was described by the US president as a 'monumental win' for the US, Europe and 'western civilisation'. He said Nato allies had shown an 'unbelievable' love for their countries, conceding that the alliance is no longer a 'rip-off' for the United States after previously berating his allies for not spending enough. 'They want to protect their country and they need the United States,' he said. 'I left here differently. I left here saying that these people really love their countries, it's not a rip-off and we're here to help them protect their country'. Praising Mr Trump for bringing about a commitment from the alliance to boost defence spending, Mr Rutte told him: 'You made this possible.' Speaking alongside the Nato secretary general, Mr Trump had compared the fighting between Iran and Israel to children quarrelling. "They've had a big fight, like two kids in a schoolyard. You know, they fight like hell, you can't stop them. Let them fight for about 2-3 minutes, then it's easy to stop them." Weighing in, Mr Rutte added: "And then daddy has to sometimes use strong language to get (them to) stop." The US president, who launched strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran last week, ahead of agreeing to a fragile ceasefire, compared the impact of the offensive to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima during World War II. Speaking at a separate press conference in the Hague after he unveiled plans to spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence and promised to purchase 12 new fighter jets which can carry nuclear warheads, Sir Keir Starmer said the Nato summit had sent a 'decisive message to aggressors'. He said the UK was on track to spend 4.1 per cent of GDP on defence by 2027, a figure largely boosted by spending towards the 1.5 per cent commitment. The prime minister also insisted his position on Russia has not changed, despite Nato failing to condemn Vladimir Putin's regime in a joint statement from the alliance's chiefs. A communique released on Wednesday after a meeting of the leaders referred to Nato's unity 'in the face of profound security threats and challenges, in particular the long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security'. It also reaffirmed support for Ukraine, but it did not explicitly condemn the Russian invasion. Mr Trump, who met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the summit, has historically taken a softer approach towards the Russian president than other Western leaders in his fraught attempts to negotiate an end to the war. It had led to speculation that is why explicit criticism of the invasion did not feature in the communique. But asked if the US president did not want Nato to condemn Mr Putin in the summit's concluding statement, Sir Keir said: 'The position in Nato has not changed, nor has my position changed. 'In fact, over the last couple of days, I would say my discussion, there's been a real resolve, but now is the time to push again, to get Putin to the table for the unconditional ceasefire.' Sir Keir also insisted that Mr Trump remains a reliable ally, saying his team is "constantly" talking to the White House, as "we have done for many years". It came as the US president said he would look at supplying Ukraine with more Patriot surface-to-air missiles, which are highly effective against Russian ballistic missiles and drones and are essential in defending critical civilian infrastructure. ' We're going to see if we can make some available, you know, they're very hard to get, we need them too. We were supplying them to Israel and they're very effective', he said. The US president was also forced to reaffirm his commitment to the collective defence of Nato allies after pouring cold water on it at the start of the summit. He told reporters on the flight from Washington that it would depend 'on your definition' of Article 5, when asked if he would commit to a collective defence. But speaking the following day, he said: 'I stand with it, that's why I'm here. If I didn't stand with it, I wouldn't be here.' It comes after the UK announced plans to provide 350 air defence missiles to Kyiv, funded by £70 million raised from the interest on seized Russian assets. Ministers also announced that Britain will purchase at least a dozen new F35A fighter jets, reintroducing a nuclear role for the Royal Air Force for the first time since the Cold War. It marks a major ramping up of Britain's nuclear capabilities in the face of escalating global instability and comes alongside the UK's decision to join Nato's dual-capable aircraft nuclear mission – an aircraft sharing agreement among Nato allies. The purchase, hailed by ministers as the 'biggest strengthening of the UK's nuclear posture in a generation', comes after a major new government review warned that the UK must prepare for the possibility of a 'wartime scenario' on home soil.
Fox News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Diddy's Defense May Include Iran in Argument
Diddy's team may use global tensions to challenge the focus of his federal case. Brad Pitt opens up about a pivotal turning point in his personal recovery journey after a high-profile breakup. Cardi B finally reveals the title and release date for her long-awaited second album. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit FOX News Radio
The Guardian
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Coalition frontbencher Julian Leeser on why a closer alliance with the US is necessary
In a year shaped by rising global tensions and growing concerns over social cohesion at home, the shadow attorney general, Julian Leeser, presents his views on Australia's place in the world
News.com.au
18-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Markets ‘treading water' amid global ‘tension'
CommSec's Tom Piotrowski says global tensions could move markets 'significantly'. 'There's no doubt the markets are treading water at the moment,' Mr Piotrowski told Sky News Australia. 'There are a lot of headlines at the moment that could arguably, by themselves, could move prices quite significantly. 'There's a tension in place; it's just a question of what breaks that tension or whether or not the temperatures just get taken down.'
