U.S. Military Bases in Puerto Rico: The Island as Strategic Colony

Puerto Rico's value to the United States has always been partly military — the island sits at the entrance to the Caribbean, commanding sea lanes and serving as a forward operating base for American power projection.

The Major Installations:
1. Roosevelt Roads Naval Station (Ceiba): The largest U.S. Navy base in the world outside the mainland, operating from 1943 to 2004. Over 32,000 acres
2. Ramey Air Force Base (Aguadilla): Strategic Air Command base during the Cold War, home to B-52 nuclear bombers, closed in 1973
3. Fort Buchanan (Bayamón): U.S. Army installation, the only remaining active-duty military base in Puerto Rico
4. Fort Allen (Juana Díaz): Army training facility
5. Camp Santiago (Salinas): Puerto Rico National Guard training center
6. Vieques Naval Training Range: 22,000+ acres used for live-fire exercises (1941-2003)
7. Culebra Naval Range: Used for bombing practice until 1975

The Strategic Logic:
Puerto Rico's military value lies in its geography:
- Located at the eastern entrance to the Caribbean Sea
- Controls access to the Panama Canal approaches
- Provides forward basing for operations in Latin America and the Caribbean
- During the Cold War, served as a front line against Soviet/Cuban influence
- Roosevelt Roads was the hub for Atlantic Fleet training and operations

The Land Cost:
At the peak of military presence:
- The military controlled approximately 13% of Puerto Rico's total land area
- In Vieques, two-thirds of the island was military-controlled
- Military land seizures displaced farming communities and disrupted traditional land use
- When bases closed, environmental contamination prevented immediate civilian reuse
- Former military lands remain contaminated — requiring expensive cleanup before they can benefit communities

The Economic Impact:
The military presence created economic dependency:
- Military bases were major employers in their regions
- When bases closed (Roosevelt Roads 2004, Ramey 1973), economic devastation followed
- Communities that had organized their economies around military employment had no alternative
- The closure of Roosevelt Roads devastated the economy of eastern Puerto Rico
- Former base lands have been slowly converted to civilian use — but economic recovery has been incomplete

Environmental Legacy:
The military left severe environmental contamination:
- Vieques: Superfund site with heavy metals, explosives residue, and potential depleted uranium
- Roosevelt Roads: Contaminated soils and groundwater from fuel storage, maintenance operations
- Ramey: Chemical contamination from military operations
- Culebra: Unexploded ordnance in marine and terrestrial environments
- Fort Allen and other installations: Various contamination requiring cleanup

The Ongoing Presence:
Though most bases have closed, the military presence continues:
- Fort Buchanan remains active
- Coast Guard stations operate around the island
- The National Guard maintains facilities
- Puerto Rico remains available for military use — the territorial clause means Congress can establish new military installations at any time without the consent of local government