Abandoned military bases in Puerto Rico are being reactivated as part of US President Donald Trump's new national security strategy. The restoration of facilities, mothballed after the Cold War, is linked to increased US military pressure on Latin America and recent events in Venezuela. This is reported by NBC News, writes UNN.
Details
For a long time, Puerto Rico's military infrastructure was in decline due to budget cuts and protests from local residents regarding the environmental consequences of artillery exercises. However, the situation has now fundamentally changed. The island's Secretary of Public Safety, National Guard Brigadier General Arthur Garffer, emphasized the region's key importance for the current US administration.
Puerto Rico is a center of gravity for the continued advancement of national policy in the Caribbean and Latin America. The island plays a crucial geostrategic and geopolitical role in Trump's agenda.
Deployment of forces and logistical maneuvers
Over the past week, military activity on the island has significantly increased.
Thousands of Army Reserve soldiers have arrived for exercises aimed at rapid deployment if needed.
The US Navy has leased part of a civilian airport in Ponce for logistical operations and complex maneuvers.
Training centers that have stood empty for decades are being reactivated.
Public reaction and consequences
The sudden return of the army to the island is causing concern among the local population. Residents of Puerto Rico are questioning the duration of this militarization and the possible return of environmental problems that previously led to the closure of the bases. Currently, official Washington views these measures as a long-term investment in "American dominance" in the Western Hemisphere.