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THE SECRET AMERICAN PLAN TO TAKE THE CANARY ISLANDS BY FORCE
The secret U.S. plan to seize the Canary Islands by force
Few people know that in 1898 the Canary Islands nearly became a turning point in history.
During the Spanish-American War, the archipelago appeared in secret U.S. military plans as a serious strategic target. While fighting raged in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines, American planners focused on the Atlantic. The Canary Islands sat astride vital shipping routes between Europe, Africa and the Americas—perfect for a naval supply base. Tenerife drew particular attention. Military reports identified the island’s northern coast, especially around La Orotava, as weakly defended and suitable for a landing. Spain was aware of these vulnerabilities but lacked resources, stretched thin across multiple conflicts. The U.S. plan envisioned more than a brief occupation: a permanent naval base controlling Atlantic shipping lanes. The war ended before the plan could be carried out. Yet the documents show how close the islands came to a dramatic and little-known shift in their history.
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