Over a month after the US arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, American forces remain not only active in the Caribbean but are operating under a long-term strategy aimed at redefining Washington’s priorities across the region and South America.

This military presence—designed to disrupt drug trafficking routes and ramp up pressure on Venezuela and Cuba—is poised to generate significant economic spillover and reinforce Puerto Rico's strategic leverage.

According to Bloomberg, US investments tied to military operations and infrastructure projects on the island are expected to reach $833 million in fiscal year 2026. This carries a potential economic impact of up to $2 billion, capable of creating approximately 12,346 jobs and driving a "significant increase" in local GDP.

A report by the Puerto Rico Planning Board revealed that the bulk of military funding will be allocated to Fort Buchanan ($500 million) near San Juan, which houses roughly 15,000 personnel. This is followed by Fort Ramey ($81 million) and Roosevelt Roads ($79 million).

US forces have relied heavily on Puerto Rico as a forward operating base for power projection in the Caribbean—initially under Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR targeting narcotics trafficking, and subsequently as the launchpad for the capture of the Venezuelan President in Caracas. According to U.S. media outlets, the Trump Administration’s focus is now shifting toward Cuba, further justifying the scale of Washington’s investments on the island.

It is critical to note that Puerto Rico has been a US territory since the Spanish-American War (1898), which led to the invasion, occupation, and annexation of the archipelago, followed by Spain’s formal cession of the territory under the Treaty of Paris. While Washington is responsible for its military defense and its residents are US citizens, they cannot vote in presidential elections and lack voting representation in Congress.

The surge in US military activity has sparked protests and demonstrations across various sectors of the island. Meanwhile, Governor Jenniffer González—a Republican and Trump ally—has defended the presence, labeling it "beneficial for Puerto Rico, for our security, and for the economy."

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