Catalonia is in search of its independence from Spain, and there was a referendum on Sunday to decide if it stays a part of Spain or secedes. Catalan leaders are meeting on Monday to take the steps that will lead them to independence, and they state that most voters approved the secession. Should the United States support the secession of Catalonia, or should it side with the Spanish government? Should the U.S. intervene in this issue to avoid potential problems in Western Europe? The secessionist movements could destroy the unity of Western countries and weaken important organizations.
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According to a report by The New York Times, Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont stated that they have the right to independence. The Catalans say that 90 percent of almost 2.3 million voters approve the independence, but these statistics have to be verified by independent agencies. Besides, Spain's constitutional court declared that the referendum had to be suspended, and it's considered illegal by Madrid. The tension will be even worse if a declaration of independence takes place; Spain could even take drastic measures to avoid it.
Spain and the U.S. are linked
According to a report by Forbes, Spain is an important ally of the United States that shares many similar viewpoints. Both countries have cooperated to build an order that created prosperity and security.
Spain is a member of the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the world. There are close to 60 million Americans that are ethnically Hispanics, and the U.S. President Donald Trump opposes the independence of Catalonia. The importance of Spain to world history is greater than Catalonia’s.
Domino effect
The secession of this region could revitalize separatist movements in political divisions like Scotland, Quebec, Basque Country, and other places. This crisis would be similar to the one that took place in Eastern Europe many years ago, and this political earthquake would weaken the Western World in a moment when there are misunderstandings with Russia and China.
Important organizations could also be shocked by the secessions. New blocs of power would emerge that could be devastating to the U.S. and its allies. The Catalans have been able to prosper for a long time under the umbrella of Madrid and the Western World. There are really no strong reasons to secede.
