
October 11, 2023
Diplomatic Strength and the Passport Index
In a previous article about the passport index, it was mentioned that passports are ranked based on the political stability and international recognition of governments and countries of the world. Data is collected and analyzed proficiently and accordingly which also means that the data can vary when it comes to the political situation of the country. A table might show a more clear understanding and accurate depiction of the power of passports.

As the table clearly depicts, the Japanese passport is the most powerful passport along with Singapore. This means that the citizens of Japan or Japanese passport holders are at a high advantage when it comes to travelling around the world, the passport automatically grants them easy access to other countries without having to acquire a visa. Why is that possible? Why are Japan and Singapore on top of the passport index? The two countries have been ranked with the most powerful passport by other countries because of their political system, internal affairs and external diplomatic relations with other countries on an international forum. Japan used to be a fascist country with a very strict regime, participated in genocide during the second World War but it has progressed significantly since then. Singapore and Japan have made the fastest technological advancements in the world and are also considered to be the most modernised countries of all time; some might even call them futuristic and that is what increases their standing over the world.
Powerful Passports: Japan and Singapore
With their technological advancements, Japan and Singapore have been actively and ardently following democratic principles. Further providing their citizens with political rights and liberty, and protection from any external forces that might jeo pardise their internal security or internal affairs. Japan also acts as a mediator or negotiator on the international forum, following a non-aggressor policy which means that it does not encourage violence. When it comes to international relations, this is a very important factor that is highly recognised by other countries and this further strengthens Japan’s position which is why other countries are more than willing to bend their rules and regulations for Japanese passport holders.
Similarly, Singapore also follows the same policies and allows foreign nationals to enjoy the country for educational as well as tourism purposes. Singapore also has a very stable economy just like Japan and both countries encourage their citizens to travel for leisure, educational, and business purposes which further allows them visa-access to countries all over the world. However, as already mentioned, diplomatic standing is the main tool for both countries that does the trick and places their passports on top, making them the most powerful passports and allowing citizens to utilise these advantages to the fullest. Japan


Why Not the USA?
With the growing desire to expand to the USA, everyone’s first choice is the USA or people naturally think that the United States would have the most powerful passport considering its influence on an international level. The index shows, clearly, that the U.S passport holders are on the seventh number due to diplomatic relations. Diplomatic relations of the U.S are not as flexible as one might think because there are aggressor states or states that the U.S has very weak relations with which include China, Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq specifically. Diplomatic relations between the USA and the countries mentioned are not as good as one might think, but they are rather strained and so citizens with the U.S visa have limited access over the world.

It always comes down to politics, diplomacy and democracy. Although, USA is a world power, the passport index depicts otherwise when it comes to providing U.S passport holders with leverage and openness to continue their ventures over the world. However, seven is not a bad number and it still opens the rest of the world with a few limitations and when have limitations ever held anyone back; one always ends up finding a loophole in some of the policies. If studied properly, the passport index actually tells us a lot of things about every country that has been ranked on the chart whether its politics, international standing, global benefits or even sanctions or the value of the passport.