Amidst high tensions with China, there is now reportedly a new push for Guam to become the 51st state.
The push for statehood has gained urgency as U.S.-China competition intensifies. The Pentagon is bolstering Guam as a hub for its Pacific strategy, upgrading bases, relocating more troops, and constructing a multibillion-dollar missile defense system to guard against potential Chinese aggression.
Proponents argue that statehood would strengthen U.S. credibility in the region while granting the island full democratic representation.
“We must solidify our place in the American family such that any attack on Guam is unmistakably an attack on the United States itself,” said Will Parkinson, a local lawmaker supporting statehood. “Statehood would remove any question in any adversary’s mind about America’s commitment here.”
Under the current territorial system, Guam is limited to a single nonvoting delegate in Congress, with no Senate representation. Advocates note that federal funding is capped for the island and that residents are excluded from certain programs.
Statehood could remedy these disparities, ensuring full participation in the democratic process Santiago fought to protect.
Opponents, including some Chamoru leaders, argue that statehood could perpetuate forms of colonialism. Monaeka Flores, director of Prutehi Guahan, said, “That these bases are here to protect democracy, to me is just a sham because we don’t even have full democracy. Sometimes it feels like we are a stateless people.” Others, like Kenneth Gofigan Kuper, favor independence or free association, which would give Guam sovereign authority while maintaining close ties to the U.S.
Federal approval would be required to achieve statehood, a potentially challenging hurdle given the implications for congressional representation.
Yet some observers see political opportunity in the current climate. Kathryn Paik, former director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific at the National Security Council, noted that “you could potentially see a Trump administration, and Trump himself, wanting to talk about expanding the U.S. footprint, doing something monumental. What bigger announcement than to create a 51st state?”
Guam’s residents are among the most patriotic Americans. The island maintains high per capita military enlistment rates and has deep historical gratitude for U.S. protection during World War II.
The ongoing military buildup and strategic significance make the island more than a symbolic concern; it is central to America’s Pacific posture.
Still, the path forward is uncertain. The federal government often favors the status quo, which allows unilateral decisions without consulting the people of Guam. Neil Weare, co-director of Right to Democracy, warned, “If it’s solely up to the federal government, the status quo will never change.” For Santiago and statehood advocates, the fight is both practical and symbolic: ensuring full democratic rights for Americans who stand on the front lines of the nation’s defense.
Guam’s future may determine not only the political enfranchisement of its residents but also the strategic posture of the United States in a critical region of the world.
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