There are only two realistic options for a non-territorial status for Puerto Rico: statehood or independence. But outside of the realistic non-territorial options, there are other theoretical possibilities. One is reunification with Spain.
There is a very small organization in Puerto Rico supporting this idea. The plan is not to return to being a colony of Spain, as Puerto Rico was for four centuries, but to being an autonomous community of Spain — very much like being a state of the United States. Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities, although there are also 50 provinces. They include Galicia, Andalusia, and Catalonia, which has an independence movement. The different regions have varying levels of autonomy and different historical and cultural identities. However, none of the regions has a separate sovereignty. When Catalonia declared independence, Spain cracked down and took away some of the region’s autonomy.
One of the communities, the Canary Islands, is, like Puerto Rico, an island region, distant from the Spanish peninsula. Examination of the Canaries might provide some insight into how reunification would work out for Puerto Rico if it took place.
If Puerto Rico rejoined Spain as an autonomous community like the Canary Islands, the euro would replace the dollar as currency and Puerto Rico would become a member of the European Union. These would be significant changes. The legal system of Spain is also quite different from the U.S. legal system.
In other areas, the transition would be smoother. Spain and Puerto Rico require both require English and Spanish instruction in schools, encouraging bilingualism. Average income in the Canary Islands is the second lowest in Spain, about $25,000 per year. Puerto Rico’s is currently about $24,000 per year. Reunification with Spain therefore might not change the standard of living.
Does Puerto Rico want reunification?
The simple answer to this is no. Reunification with Spain has never been on the ballot of any status vote, and it is not part of the agenda of any major political party in Puerto Rico.
Evidence of the existence of a movement is slight. Anette Falcón spoke before the UN Special Committee on Decolonization as a representative of this point of view, saying, “We want to return to Spain because it is a democratic and modern country committed to our Western civilization. And long live Spain, motherland, and long live Spanish Puerto Rico. Olé!” There is a group supporting this view, and they have a Facebook page. Impacto reports that the group has 36 members. Carlos Sanchez Silva addressed the question on Quora and stated that the supposed movement is actually a protest against the failure of the United States to admit Puerto Rico as a state. Others in the discussion suggested that the epicenter of the movement is in Florida.
It is probably safe to say that this is not a popular choice in Puerto Rico.
Does Spain want reunification?
The answer to this question is also no. Spain actually does seem to want to regain Gibraltar, which it ceded to Great Britain in 1713. Gibraltar is physically part of Spain, though it is a territory of Britain. The two European nations have had a number of spats over Gibraltar, with Spain claiming that the UK is illegally occupying Gibraltar as a colony.
In contrast, Spain has not asked for any discussions about Puerto Rico since ceding it to the United States in 1898.
Does the United States want reunification between Spain and Puerto Rico?
Not only Puerto Rico and Spain but also the United States, which owns Puerto Rico, would have to agree to a treaty of reunification. As with Spain, there is no indication that the United States has any desire to negotiate at this point.
Spain and the United States are on good terms and could conceivably work something out if Puerto Rico actually voted for reunification with Spain, but there is no clear benefit for the United States in returning Puerto Rico to Spain. In fact, the Monroe Doctrine, which still occasionally comes up in political discourse, calls for European nations to stay out of the Americas entirely.
The chances that the United States would support this plan do not look good.
The proposal that Puerto Rico return to Spain makes the most sense as an expression of frustration with continuing in a colonial relationship with the United States for more than a century.
