The US government issued a travel warning on July 21 in seven countries, including Myanmar due to the high risk of arbitrary detention of US citizens.

The US government has issued a travel warning for the following countries: Myanmar, Hong Kong (China), Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela were listed as Level-4.

Following a series of high profile detentions, US President Joe Biden directed the US State Department on July 19 to issue more detailed travel warnings in a move that could pave the way for sanctions against countries that arbitrarily detain US citizens.

The presidential order would allow US government departments to legally impose financial sanctions or travel bans on foreign officials or non-nationals involved in the wrongful detention of US citizens.

“Using sanctions does not always help to free one. Therefore, we should be prudent in using the presidential decree. We will be able to do it strategically," an American official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

At least 11 Americans are being held in Venezuela. However, two of the 11 were freed in March after rare talks between Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the United States.

Biden signed a presidential order and submitted it to Congress, stating that the US government is doing what is necessary in what US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said are relentless efforts to free US citizens abroad.

"When Americans are held hostage abroad, we must do everything in our power to secure the release of those held," Blinken said in a statement.

This action by the US government comes after reports that basketball player Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia on drug charges have been widely reported in the media. Griner's wife initially said that President Biden was not doing enough in this case.