Of the five populated territories, Puerto Rico is the largest by land mass and population (roughly 3.3 million). The Department of Defense (DOD) gunnery and bombing range called Vieques Island became a cause célèbre for left-leaning personalities such as Al Sharpton in the late 1990s. With the peace dividend looming over DOD budgets in the later years of the Clinton administration and the raging theater and feigned outrage by non-Puerto Ricans, the DOD decision was made to shut down and depart—with dire strategic consequences for U.S. diplomacy and security being felt today.
As described to me by former Secretary of State and Puerto Rico Lt. Gov. Elmer L. Román, the “closure of Roosevelt Roads and the lack of a comprehensive U.S. strategy towards Puerto Rico has left the United States exposed in its furthermost eastern flank, weakened its sea control over the Caribbean, and potentially offsetting U.S. dominance in the Atlantic.”
In other words, putting an end to Mahan’s Sea power theory and the Monroe Doctrine.
As a strategic analyst and planner, the proper term to describe what’s going on in Puerto Rico is “vacuum” as in, “A vacuum is developing.” In other words, the situation in Puerto Rico is creating a strategic “vacuum” or offset with destabilizing issues including the loss of population, a surge in criminal activity, and the increase of foreign powers in the region. Nothing good ever comes from a vacuum, except the opportunity for someone else to come in and take advantage of the situation.
Creating a New Puerto Rico to Deter Chinese Adventurism
We must address the Puerto Rican situation with alacrity. The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Silk Road effort is already roaming the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. To begin to change the dynamics in Puerto Rico, and as members of the American nation-state, the American citizens of Puerto Rico deserve better state and local governments. One key tenet is driving out the culture of corruption and replacing this dysfunction with the exact opposite.There are other tangible measures that can be taken. In times of Great Power Competition, as Román expressed, it’s time for the United States to be blunt and reclaim what belongs to it from Chinese, Russian, or other foreign power influence. First is consideration of moving Southern Command from Miami to a reopened Roosevelt Roads Naval Station and airfield. Next is the movement of the U.S. Navy’s 4th Fleet from Mayport, Florida, to the same facility.
Bring Situation, Opportunities to Center of US Discourse
Yes, the U.S. discourse is crowded, noisy, and confusing already, but the reality is that we have a part that’s struggling, and it’s unwise to do nothing. Giving statehood status (if the citizens of Puerto Rico want this), or at least immediately incorporating the territory, gist for another article, would bring Puerto Rico to the forefront of the core American news cycle, enabling positive dialogue and action.Years of American ambivalence in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America have created opportunities for China. Losing Puerto Rico would be losing the Caribbean. And losing the Caribbean opens the door to losing the Atlantic. We should ensure that Puerto Rico is part of the solution and the beginnings of a firm stand against Chinese or Russian adventurism in the immediate front yard of America.