The Puerto Rican political, social, financial, and economic situation is on the verge of a total collapse that must be avoided at all costs. The path of degradation that Puerto Rico is facing will only bring serious challenges in the very near future for Puerto Ricans and Americans alike.

Perhaps the actual territorial status served United States interests at some point in history, but it has now become a political and economic burden and embarrassment to the U.S., and an obstacle to Puerto Rico’s economic development.

Unfortunately, Puerto Rican politics have been co-opted by unprincipled and corrupt politicians who use the dilemma to keep themselves in power. These politicians are incapable of presenting a course of action that will mitigate the financial and economic crisis and effectively end the detrimental territorial status. They neither acknowledge American domestic challenges in Puerto Rico nor America’s role in the region and the globe. Lacking a “vision of tomorrow,” that is, a plan for bringing together and forging a country without first bringing about its demise, these politicians have become unfit to offer Puerto Ricans an option that brings democracy and economic prosperity.

Given the lack of consensus and support in Puerto Rico and the United States, it has become evident that statehood for Puerto Rico is not a viable option. Indeed, contrary to the message promoted by pro-statehood politicians, we have recently seen a decrease in popular support for this option. Faced with this reality, we are left with only two other options to address this emerging emergency: either independence or a Compact of Free Association.

Free Association has experienced an exponential growth of sympathy in Puerto Rico, given the positive experience of the United States with Free Association compacts in the Pacific. The objective should be to forge a new Puerto Rico that will be a strategic ally and partner of the United States, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean. The United States needs a strong and strategic Puerto Rican ally, not a bankrupt and embarrassing colonial territory that diminishes and limits the interests of both nations.

Here are two (2) specific executive actions that could break the deadlock and immediately start solving Puerto Rico’s political status dilemma:

Puerto Ricans are divided, incapable of deciding on a matter in which one of the concerned parties — the United States — remains silent and indifferent. Multiple congressional hearings demonstrate the absence of consensus on how to approach the question of Puerto Rico’s future political status.

The President of the United States can make history and move the debate forward by means of a presidential initiative aimed at defining the status option of Free Association for Puerto Rico, by creating Puerto Rico’s Free Association Status Working Group.

Although it is the only status option truly available for Puerto Rico at this moment that can foster its prosperity while establishing a non-territorial relationship with the United States, the Free Association status option is not well understood either in Puerto Rico or the United States. Certainly, it is the only status option capable of accommodating the main concerns expressed by the advocates of the three traditional status options (Statehood, Independence, and Commonwealth), each of which lacks decisive support from the people of Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans and Americans cannot decide to start a new non-territorial relationship without first properly defining the Free Association option and its implications.

Puerto Ricans can't exercise their right to self-determination if one of the status options, Free Association, has not been defined. A precise definition of Free Association could realign the political will in Puerto Rico and the United States in favor of a new non-territorial relationship that can bring our countries closer together as true partners.

The creation of the Working Group will not be interpreted as a commitment or support by the U.S. Administration for the Free Association status option for Puerto Rico. It is only a step forward to end the deadlock by presenting a properly defined status option and its implications, which could facilitate the decision-making process on both sides, as it offers an overview of what Americans and Puerto Ricans can expect under a sovereign Puerto Rico.

An update on the 2014 U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, “Puerto Rico: Information on How Statehood Would Potentially Affect Selected Federal Programs and Revenue Sources” (GAO-14-31), regarding the consequences of statehood is necessary. The current conclusions are outdated. The report, originally requested by former Representatives Doc Hastings (R-WA) and John Fleming (R-LA), clearly illustrates the dire and negative consequences of Puerto Rico's statehood for both the island and the United States.

A lot has happened since 2014, and it is certain that if GAO-14-31 were updated, the negative consequences would be even more severe and dramatic, demonstrating once again that statehood is not a feasible status option for Puerto Rico and the United States. Americans and Puerto Ricans should have access to the most up-to-date information about the economic and fiscal implications of statehood for Puerto Rico. An updated report would provide valuable insights into the economic, political, and social implications of granting statehood to Puerto Rico.

The path of no return Puerto Rico is taking under its current territorial status is unsustainable. There is an opportunity to do something great for Puerto Rico and the United States, and we should not miss it. A solution to end the “Puerto Rico Problem” is within reach. Our two nations share bonds of history, democratic values, and cooperation that are unbreakable. The time for action is now.

Efraín Vázquez-Vera, Ph.D., is a full professor and former Chancellor at the University of Puerto Rico. He holds a Doctorate and a master’s in International Relations from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain), a master’s in strategic studies and international security from the Universidad de Granada (Spain), and is a graduate of the Diplomatic School at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain. 

DC and PR: From our friends at the Latino Media Collective, guests James Early and Alberto Medina break down the parallels between the battle for DC statehood and Puerto Rican independence.

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