USA in Canary Islands

The Spanish heavily fortified the Canary Islands during the Spanish American War expecting an attack. What if the US did and was successful enough to be able to purchase the islands as part of the peace treaty. Would have an African territory close to Europe change US foreign relations history? Would the US be involved in things like the Morocco Crisis between France and Germany, perhaps go on and buy Spanish Sahara on the mainland? Could US be active behind the scenes in the Spanish Civil War, get into WWI earlier?
 
Well, the US did have War Plan Grey for an attack on the Azores, so it's not outside the realm of possibility that attack would've been possible.

Would it have altered foreign relations during the period you mentioned? I doubt it. Isolationism is still a big deal until 1941. The US probably would've stayed out of the Morocco Crisis, and I can't imagine them buying Spanish Sahara. What benefit would the US have seen to it? At least the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam, etc. have strategic and economic value. From an early 20th-Century POV, I don't think US politicians or their constituents would see Spanish Sahara as worth it.

The most use it would probably get is during the Second World War. That has mad strategic value then, however I can also see the Germans attempting to make a mad dash to take it from the Americans (not outside the realm of possibility. Look at how many overseas posts were undermanned).
 
Liberia was a US colony in everything but name. Intermitantly the USN has kept up a the African or North African Station as part of its global maritime trade protection. At the turn of the Century Jingoism & a expansionist mindset eclipsed isolationism. If United Fruit decides there is money in west Africa then who knows.
 
If this occurs it lets the US extend its 1939-1941 Nuetrality Zone across one of the OTL German submarine operating zones

If the USA had the Azores, it changes the control of the seas equation for everyone. Even the British wouldn't be arrogant enough to tell the USA what it could and couldn't ship from the mainland to its own territory, so, for everyone in Europe, the Azores are a trade concern. If anyone tries to grab them by force, they have just ensured that the USA IS involved in whatever war is ongoing, and no one wants that. Furthermore, in the event of a European war, the USA, even at its most isolationist, would be likely to fortify them. A powerful neutral being in a position to forward-deploy heavy land and sea assets is someon that it's wise NOT to anger...
 
If the USA had the Azores, it changes the control of the seas equation for everyone. Even the British wouldn't be arrogant enough to tell the USA what it could and couldn't ship from the mainland to its own territory, so, for everyone in Europe, the Azores are a trade concern. If anyone tries to grab them by force, they have just ensured that the USA IS involved in whatever war is ongoing, and no one wants that. Furthermore, in the event of a European war, the USA, even at its most isolationist, would be likely to fortify them. A powerful neutral being in a position to forward-deploy heavy land and sea assets is someon that it's wise NOT to anger...
I agree Azores could do that. But I dont see it possible to seize Azores other than to purchase it during wwii. We are talking about Canary Islands, to the south and east off the African coast.
 
Hmmm.... US is at war with Spain, so they seize Portuguese territory.... [Bush comment deleted]

I realize we're talking about the Canaries. I'm just saying there was already a plan to take an Eastern Atlantic island chain and using that as a stepping off point for how it would be feasible for them to take it.

As for the Germans making that mad dash, I'm talking Post-11 December 1941.

Liberia was a US colony in everything but name. Intermitantly the USN has kept up a the African or North African Station as part of its global maritime trade protection. At the turn of the Century Jingoism & a expansionist mindset eclipsed isolationism. If United Fruit decides there is money in west Africa then who knows.

I'm doubting this The US didn't want to deal with West Africa much aside from curtailing the slave trade during the days assisting the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron. Further, Liberia was nothing like a colony. Founded by the ACS, it wasn't recognized by the US until 1862, and following that, it's only interactions were to ensure it's independence from encroaching European powers: http://bit.ly/2bqdy2w
 
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