イギリスのコンサルティング会社ヘンリー・アンド・パートナーズが13日に公表した「パスポートパワーランキング」の最新版では、米国の順位が過去1年間で再び上昇したものの、長期的な視点では下落の傾向に歯止めがかかっていないことが明らかになった。
In the latest update of the Passport Power Ranking, announced by the British consulting firm Henley & Partners on the 13th, the United States ranking has risen again over the past year, but the long-term downward trend still has not stopped.
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In the latest rankings, despite the number of countries that American citizens can enter without a visa decreasing by seven, the United States has still returned to the top 10.
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However, compared to 2014, when the United States and the United Kingdom were considered the strongest in the world, their subsequent decline in ranking has been quite remarkable.
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Since this survey began in 2006, the rate of decline in the United States has been the third largest after Venezuela and Vanuatu, making it one of the largest declines in history.
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In particular, the fact that seven countries have decreased in the past year can be seen as a symbol of the decline in Americas international influence.
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The Henley & Partners ranking evaluates the strength of a passport based on the number of countries that can be entered without a visa using that passport.
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Therefore, multiple countries may share the same rank.
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For example, the fact that ten European countries are all ranked fourth reflects the reality that international relations are more complex than simply comparing each country individually.
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The director of the Vienna Institute for Human Sciences and an expert in international politics stated, The power of a passport is not just about the freedom to travel, but also serves as an indicator of international credibility, diplomatic capability, and political stability.
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The reduction in visa waiver countries for American and British citizens should be understood not as a result of economic factors or technical issues, but as a sign of geopolitical restructuring.
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It should also be noted that Singapores passport has maintained the strongest position in recent years.
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Although Singapore is geographically a small country, its citizens are allowed visa-free entry to 192 countries, demonstrating its increasing international influence.
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Additionally, the country that has seen the largest increase in the number of visa-exempt countries over the past 20 years is the United Arab Emirates UAE.
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The rise in this countrys ranking is the result of a strategy that leverages tourism liberalization and economic activities.
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On the other hand, American policy remains unilateral.
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Americans can travel abroad freely, but there are only 46 countries whose citizens can enter the United States without a visa.
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This imbalance indicates that the United States still does not recognize freedom of international travel to the same extent as the freedom of its own citizens.
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In other words, the United States is the country with the greatest disparity in the world between openness to foreigners and freedom of movement for its own citizens.
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Mr. Tim Clatty of Grant Thornton China, a major Chinese auditing firm, criticized U.S. policy as nothing more than a return to nationalism.
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On the other hand, Chinas recent increase in visa-exempt countries is a policy that emphasizes openness.
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China is increasing the freedom of its citizens to travel abroad while also expanding its acceptance of international tourists, and Mr. Clatty predicts that this openness will provide an advantage in future competition for international status.
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In this way, passport strength may seem like just a simple ranking, but behind it, the diplomatic policies and geopolitical strategies of each country are clearly reflected.
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The passport wars are just a small part of a geopolitical competition that has a much deeper significance than superficial rankings.
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You can read global geopolitical trends from the rise and fall of the rankings.
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