The United States passport has experienced a decline in global rankings, falling to the 10th position alongside Iceland and Lithuania in the latest Henley Passport Index report.
The most recent Henley Passport Index has positioned the United States passport at the 10th rank, marking its lowest in the 20-year history of the index, as reported by CNN. This development places the U.S. passport on the verge of exiting the Top 10 for the first time since the index began.
The Henley Passport Index assesses passports based on the number of countries their holders can enter without needing a visa. Currently, Singapore leads the rankings, followed by Japan and South Korea, which share the second spot. Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain are all tied for third place.
In contrast, India has made a significant leap, moving from 85th to 77th in just six months. Christian H. Kaelin, who conceived the passport-index concept, emphasized the importance of active diplomacy in maintaining passport power, according to USA Today. He noted that countries that focus on negotiating visa waivers and fostering reciprocal agreements tend to rise in the rankings, while those less engaged in such diplomatic activities fall behind.
The current top positions in the Henley Passport Index highlight the importance of strategic diplomatic efforts. Singapore enjoys the top spot, with Japan and South Korea at second. The third tier includes Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain. Following them are Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden tied for fourth place, with Greece, New Zealand, and Switzerland taking fifth. The United Kingdom is at sixth, with Australia, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, and Poland tied for seventh. Canada, Estonia, and the United Arab Emirates share the eighth spot, while Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia, and Slovenia occupy the ninth. The United States shares its 10th position with Iceland and Lithuania.
This reflection of the current geopolitical climate underscores the vitality of maintaining diplomatic relations to secure and expand visa-free access across the globe.
According to CNBC, the United States passport is notably close to dropping out of the Top 10 for the first time since the index’s inception two decades ago.
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