Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$3,497.8 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.3% (2003)
Transnational Issues Portugal
Disputes - international:
Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory
of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815
Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz
Illicit drugs:
gateway country for Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian
heroin entering the European market (especially from Brazil);
transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe;
consumer of Southwest Asian heroin
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
======================================================================
@Puerto Rico
Introduction Puerto Rico
Background:
Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was
claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following COLUMBUS' second
voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule
that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African
slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result
of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US
citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since
1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal
self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters
chose not to alter the existing political status.