In recent months, Puerto Rican pro-statehood politicians have argued that if the U.S. won’t grant Puerto Rico statehood, it should at least militarize the island again.
Puerto Rico is “America’s southern border,” they argue, and China and Russia are encroaching in the Caribbean. Why not retain and expand the U.S. military footprint there?
This narrative is being pushed most aggressively by pro-statehood Gov. Jenniffer González of the PNP party, whose government has openly promoted reopening former military facilities in Puerto Rico for U.S. defense purposes. It is, in truth, a desperate attempt to keep Puerto Rico relevant to Washington when American interest is waning, the pro-statehood PNP is losing political ground at home, and a growing pro-sovereignty movement threatens its grip on power.
For decades, the scandal-plagued PNP has failed to convince Congress or the public that statehood is the right path for Puerto Rico, despite repeated referenda and lobbying campaigns. Faced with this reality, PNP leaders are now doubling down on militarization to change the narrative.
The problem is that this strategy is not designed to benefit Puerto Ricans, but rather to preserve the political relevance of the PNP. The party portrays Puerto Rico as essential to U.S. security interests, even if that comes at the cost of turning the island into a militarized colony.
History teaches us that military expansion in Puerto Rico comes at a cost. From Vieques to Roosevelt Roads, the presence of U.S. military facilities has displaced communities and caused environmental contamination. Puerto Ricans paid a price so that Washington could check a box on its defense map.
If Washington reopens old bases or builds new ones, it will not strengthen Puerto Rico’s democracy or economy but ignite major protests, deepen political divisions, increase social and cultural tensions, and reinforce Puerto Rico's century-old colonial dependency model.
Puerto Ricans do not want to be treated as pawns in a global chess game. They want a future built on dignity, sustainability, freedom, and self-determination. Militarization will only generate more conflict and, ironically, make Puerto Rico less stable, not more secure.
There is a better path forward that aligns with both Puerto Rican aspirations and American principles, and that is sovereignty. Washington’s costly financial commitments to Puerto Rico would end, and Puerto Rico would be able to build its own institutions — including security, defense, and maritime forces — that could partner with the U.S. in fighting real regional threats such as drug trafficking, human smuggling, and organized crime.
These issues truly matter in the Caribbean, and they are best handled through cooperative security arrangements rather than colonial occupation. The U.S. has strong defense partnerships and agreements with dozens of sovereign nations worldwide. A sovereign Puerto Rico could be one of them.
Sovereignty would also hand Puerto Ricans both the power and the responsibility to make their own decisions about energy, trade, and foreign policy. As long as Puerto Rico remains dependent on Washington, its local politicians are incentivized to lobby D.C. rather than address local problems. Sovereignty would break this cycle.
Pro-statehood politicians often claim that if Puerto Rico is not tightly controlled by Washington, then China or Russia will swoop in and turn the island into a hostile foothold. This is a scare tactic with little basis in reality. The U.S. does not need colonial control to maintain influence. Consider the U.S. relationships with nations like the Philippines, Singapore, and Colombia. These sovereign states cooperate closely with Washington on matters of security, trade, and diplomacy. There is no reason Puerto Rico could not play a similar role in the Caribbean once it is a sovereign nation.
The truth is, China and Russia expand their influence where instability reigns. By continuing to impose colonial governance on Puerto Rico, Washington fuels discontent and instability. By supporting Puerto Rican sovereignty, the U.S. would help create a stable and friendly ally and partner in the region — one far less vulnerable to external manipulation.
The responsible path forward is clear: Instead of remilitarizing Puerto Rico, the U.S. should initiate a serious and orderly transition to sovereignty — one that respects Puerto Rico’s right to self-determination and independence while maintaining cooperative security arrangements that benefit both nations.
Last month, thousands of Puerto Ricans gathered outside the U.S. federal courthouse in Old San Juan for a major march and rally in support of independence. With Puerto Rican flags in hand and patriotic chants, they conveyed a strong message: Support for sovereignty is increasing and cannot be overlooked.
Puerto Rico’s future should not be dictated by fear, nor by the ambitions of colonial politicians who seek relevance in Washington at the expense of their own people. Americans must recognize that sovereignty is the just solution for Puerto Rico, and also the smart one for the U.S.
Javier A. Hernández is a Puerto Rican writer, educator, linguist, and pro-sovereignty activist. He is the author of "PREXIT: Forging Puerto Rico’s Path to Sovereignty and Puerto Rico: The Economic Case for Sovereignty."
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