In recent years, a growing number of Puerto Ricans have intensified their calls for full independence from the United States, driven by a deep frustration with over a century of colonial rule. The movement, energized by groups like the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) and the Citizens Victory Movement (MVC), points to historical grievances—such as the 1898 U.S. invasion, forced sterilizations, and economic exploitation through policies like the Jones Act—as evidence of systemic oppression. Protests, like those in 2019 that ousted Governor Ricardo Rosselló, have linked anti-colonial sentiment to issues like austerity imposed by the U.S.-appointed Financial Oversight and Management Board, skyrocketing living costs, and displacement due to tax incentives like Act 60 that favor wealthy outsiders. Advocates argue that only sovereignty can restore Puerto Rico’s cultural identity and economic self-sufficiency, with the United Nations’ Special Committee on Decolonization repeatedly affirming the island’s right to self-determination since 2018, citing ongoing violations of international law by the U.S.

However, these demands for separation may overlook Puerto Rico’s strategic role in what some geopolitical strategists refer to as the “Golden Circle,” a historical concept reimagined in modern U.S. defense policy as a network of key Caribbean and Latin American territories critical for hemispheric dominance. Puerto Rico’s geographic position makes it a vital hub for U.S. military and economic influence in the Western Hemisphere, particularly in countering China’s growing presence in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The island hosts significant U.S. military infrastructure, and its status as a territory ensures American control over regional trade routes and security operations, aligning with a broader “techno-fascist Imperium” strategy that prioritizes advanced surveillance, cyber capabilities, and critical mineral access for defense tech. This vision, outlined in analyses like those from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, sees Puerto Rico as a linchpin in insulating the U.S. from adversarial powers like China, which has invested heavily in LAC infrastructure and critical minerals. Independence could disrupt this framework, potentially weakening U.S. strategic positioning.

The tension between Puerto Rican aspirations for sovereignty and the U.S.’s strategic imperatives creates a complex dilemma. Independence advocates argue that colonialism has left the island vulnerable, pointing to the inadequate federal response to Hurricane Maria in 2017, which led to thousands of deaths, and ongoing economic crises exacerbated by U.S. policies. Yet, the U.S. views Puerto Rico’s integration as non-negotiable for maintaining a stable, democratic hemisphere, especially as global powers vie for influence. While Puerto Ricans demand liberation from what they see as a suffocating colonial yoke, they may not fully grasp how their island’s strategic value ties it to a broader U.S. defense architecture—one that prioritizes control over autonomy. The push for independence, though rooted in legitimate grievances, risks clashing with a U.S. agenda that sees Puerto Rico not as a colony to be freed but as an indispensable asset in a techno-centric, hegemonic strategy, leaving the island’s future caught between local aspirations and global power plays.