UAE and Bahrain join Bahamas in issuing travel warnings to citizens visiting the US

In an ironic twist, three countries have issued travel advisory warnings to their citizens visiting the US. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have both joined the Bahamas in issuing the warning to their citizens.

This comes on the back of the violent protests that have erupted in the US after a series of police shootings of black Americans. Five policemen were killed when a sniper opened fire at a peaceful protest in Dallas against the police shootings of two black Americans - Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minnesota and Alton Sterling in Louisiana Baton Rouge.

The US, which is usually the one that issues such travel cautions, is now at the centre of such an advisory by other countries. In July alone, the US had issued travel warnings for Bangladesh, Venezuela, Iraq and Mali.

The UAE has urged its students and other citizens in the US to be careful. "Please be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid crowded places when possible," the embassy said in a statement. It also urged its citizens to stay clear of any US demonstrations.

"Exercise particular caution during large festivals or events, be alert and stay safe," it said, using language that is normally used by the US State Department when issuing travel warnings.

The US embassy of Bahrain on Saturday 9 July urged its citizens via Twitter to be "cautious of protests or crowded areas occurring around the the US.

The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned its citizens on 8 July to "exercise extreme caution" in their interactions with the police in the US. In Bahamas, most people there identify as being of African heritage, Reuters noted.

"While it is prudent for travellers to conduct themselves in an orderly manner at all times, in light of recent episodes of involving police officers and young black men in the United States, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration wishes to advise the Bahamian Public to exercise due care and attention especially when travelling to particular cities in the United States."

The travel advisory continued: "In particular young males are asked to exercise extreme caution in affected cities in their interactions with the police. Do not be confrontational and cooperate."