And a segment of its population believes the best path forward would be to rejoin Spain, more than a century after it parted ways with the European country.<\/p>\n
It may seem incredible, but this beautiful island, which is home to 3.2 million people, is once again reconsidering its historical roots.<\/p>\n
Most Read on Euro Weekly News<\/p>\n
127 years later, Puerto Rico wants to be Spanish again<\/strong><\/p>\n Once the very first autonomous community of Spain, Puerto Rico was handed over to the United States in 1898 following the Spanish-American War.<\/p>\n Today, after more than 120 years under U.S. rule, a small but growing group of Puerto Ricans is saying: enough. It\u2019s time to go back \u2014 not to independence, not to U.S. statehood, but to Spain!<\/p>\n A not-so-crazy idea?<\/strong><\/p>\n The movement is called Adelante Reunificacionistas, and while it may sound fringe at first, its message is gaining traction.<\/p>\n The group wants Puerto Rico to officially become Spain\u2019s 18th autonomous community, much like the Canary Islands \u2014 with full rights, representation, and access to European social programmes.<\/p>\n According to its founders, around 13% of Puerto Ricans support the idea of reunification. That may not seem like much, but in a region with deeply divided views on its political future, that\u2019s a significant slice. And for some, the argument isn\u2019t just political: it\u2019s cultural, historical, and economic.<\/p>\n Nostalgia for Spanish rule<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cPuerto Rico never wanted to break away from Spain,\u201d says Jos\u00e9 Lara, the movement\u2019s leader. \u201cWe had autonomy. We had progress. Then came the U.S. invasion, and everything changed.\u201d<\/p>\n He paints a picture of a Puerto Rico that\u2019s been in limbo ever since. Under U.S. rule, the island is classified as a \u201ccommonwealth\u201d. It has a flag, a governor, and a non-voting representative in Congress.<\/p>\n But Puerto Ricans can\u2019t vote for the U.S. president, and many key decisions are made in Washington, not San Juan.<\/p>\n But there is more than nostalgia<\/strong><\/p>\n Critics might dismiss the campaign as romantic or unrealistic, but supporters insist it\u2019s grounded in facts.<\/p>\n Spanish remains the island\u2019s primary language \u2014 culturally and institutionally. Catholic traditions, Iberian surnames, and Spanish-style town plazas remain embedded in Puerto Rican culture. Many believe that Spain \u2014 not the U.S. \u2014 represents a more natural fit for the island\u2019s identity and future.<\/p>\n![\"Shocking](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Puerto_Rico_01-1024x655.jpg\")
San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Credit: Creative Commons<\/p>\n
![\"Shocking](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/960px-Puerto_Rico_Beaches_03.jpg\")
Beach in Puerto Rico.