What happened
Mona Island, located in the Caribbean, is considered a strategic location due to its proximity to the Mona Passage, a key shipping route. The island has been left unguarded, creating a security vacuum that smugglers and cartels have exploited. The Coast Guard has intercepted a significant number of migrants and cartel boats in the area, and there are concerns that China may also be taking advantage of the situation.
The Mona Passage is an 80-mile choke point that serves as the Atlantic gateway to the Panama Canal, and its exposure poses a risk to national security. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has ranked Chinese-linked Jamaica as Latin America's highest-risk port due to its command of the passage.
Puerto Rico currently categorizes Mona Island as a nature reserve, but it is suggested that this does not require the area to be left unmonitored. To address the security gap, it is proposed that the White House execute three executive orders: establishing a joint Interior-Defense bastion on the island, certifying Mona as the official Passage Qualification Range, and seating the Amona Targeting Board inside a cave on the island.
These measures aim to secure the Mona Passage, prevent smuggling and cartel activity, and counter potential Chinese exploitation of the area. The proposed plan would allow for the sharing of intelligence and coordination with partner nations, as well as the establishment of a secure facility on the island.
