Puerto Rico: Still “Strategic”? Or Just an Outdated Excuse?

Some say “The U.S. will never let go of Puerto Rico because it’s strategic for defense.”

That thinking might’ve made sense in the 1800s or during World War II—when naval bases and geography determined power. But we’re in 2025.

With modern satellite tech, long-range missiles, drones, and cyber warfare, the U.S. no longer needs Puerto Rico as a military outpost.

In reality, Puerto Rico today is more of a financial and political burden to the U.S. than a “strategic gem.”

• High federal costs
• Little to no voting power in Congress
• A growing movement for change on the island

So let’s stop recycling Cold War logic. Puerto Rico deserves a real conversation about its future—not outdated excuses from the past.