To want to cancel conference in Peurto Rico

[VirtualEvaluation]

Would you also feel uneasy about going to a conference in Peurto Rico at the beginning of February? Feel like it should not go ahead tbh, no one can say how the events in that area will go in the next few weeks. What would you do?

Although I posted on a similar thread that I wouldn't want to go to the US anyway at the moment, I don't think recent events have made it any more dangerous if you were happy to visit previously.

Puerto Rico is hundreds of miles away from Venezuela, but even if there was an all out war, Venezuela barely has a navy, and would have zero chance of doing anything other than token coastal defence.

I assume you mean because of events in Venezuela? There's currently no Foreign Office advice against travelling to the Dominican Republic or Grenada but I'd probably be keeping an eye on the website just in case.

What's your travel insurance cover like? And how essential is it for you to attend? (And does the conference itself rely on you attending in any way? If you're a keynote or something you'll need to give the organisers a decent amount of notice).

Sounds great. Beautiful place. I’d go and wouldn’t think twice 😊

I'd be thinking twice. I cancelled a going to a conference in Turkey in 2013 during the protests, turns out the situation wasn't that bad, but it was just starting when I was due to go and I decided it wasn't worth it. Not for work. Think about the 'what ifs'. Also, if this is workplace funded and/or they pay your travel insurance, what's their policy? My organisation is very cautious in this regard and would prob advise against going. Isn't the airspace closed at the moment?

It's 1000km from Venezuela. It's like not wanting to go to London because of activities in Monaco!

This!

Doesn't have any impact on PR and this is not going to evolve to full blown war so go and enjoy yourself

For goodness sake. What others have said. It's 1,000 miles away, and nothing is going to kick off in the way you seem to think, anyway.

Surely proximity to Venezuela isn’t the problem, the problem is that its part of the USA.

Are you anticipating that the US will invade the entire Caribbean?

This is what I thought was OPs concerns, PR being an overseas US territory.

So why would PR have any involvement from USA? PR is a USA territory and people there are USA citizens with partial rights. It’s totally different from Venezuela that’s independent. Plus the FO will advise if Brits should not go there. You have no reason to back out.

PR is a US territory.

It's pretty far from Venezuela. No oil either.

I'd be getting a bit leery about going to Mexico given the language they're using.

Colombia is a bigger issue!

The U.S. will start deploying more aircraft (like F-35 fighters and drones), and landing craft to the PR, so the main worry would be getting stuck as we saw happen already when they closed airspace over the whole area.

The US already has military presence in PR and I don't see the Venezuela situation escalating. this was a long time coming and has been escalating for years now so it's not like it was decided overnight, and unless China declares war against the US to defend Venezuela (which will never happen) I don't see any escalation but if cancelling will give you peace of mind it may be better to do so. Sometimes you have to listen to your gut.

I wouldn't cancel but my comfort level is different from yours so you have to do what works for you.

In the early 80s we were in the USVI. Lots of USA activity with aircraft carrier, planes etc - we thought getting ready to help Maggie in the Falklands. I don’t see it as much of a risk.

Why on earth would this be an issue to go?

Agree with this

Always a wise idea to consult http// www.gov.UK>org. for official travel advisory to many different countries.

Unless the FCO

You are overreacting

I would only cancel if Foreign Office advice changed.