Empire Rising: Spain

If this plan can be realized, the new African colony will cover millions of square kilometers, an area comparable to the former Brazilian colony once controlled by Portugal.

As a once-declining colonial empire, Portugal is eager for a new large colony and is willing to make significant efforts for it.

The current proposal from Spain is a great opportunity, and even though they know the Spaniards aren’t being altruistic, the Portuguese Government and King Luis of Portugal are unwilling to pass up such an opportunity.

The diplomatic representatives sent by Portugal also show the importance Portugal places on this.

This time, the diplomatic representative is not an ambassador but Portugal’s Cabinet Minister for colonial affairs. As a former colonial empire, Portugal also has similar cabinet ministers like the Spanish Secretary of Colonial Affairs.

Moreover, such a Cabinet Minister holds considerable status and power and can even rank among the top three ministers in Portugal’s Cabinet.

The Portuguese diplomatic mission is led by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, along with the Foreign Secretary, the ambassador, and numerous Portuguese officials.

Worth mentioning is that this is the second colonial exchange negotiation conducted by Spain in less than half a year.

However, the previous colonial exchange negotiation involved an empty-handed deal proposal by the British, allowing Spain to conquer the Oman Region without the British giving up anything.

Now, on the contrary, Spain has proposed a similar deal. Spain permits Portugal to colonize the land south of the Congo Territory, with Spain making no sacrifices other than not colonizing south of the Congo.

Given that Spain has already established a territory covering millions of square kilometers in the Congo, relinquishing the land south of the Congo Territory isn’t much of a loss.

After all, the larger the colony, the more troops are required to guard it. Until Spain has enough population and funds to develop the colony, the larger the area, the greater the costs, and the less the colony benefits Spain.

The main topic of negotiation between the Portuguese Government and the Spanish Government is the respective terms for their related exchanges.

Although Portugal is very interested in the land south of the Congo Territory, they are unwilling to give up all of their West African colonies.

After all, on the surface, Portugal still possesses colonies in West Africa, including Portuguese Guinea Colony, Portuguese Zijinshaoer, Portuguese Cape Verde, Portuguese Vida, and Portuguese Sao Tome and Principe.

Regardless of the size, population, and economic value of these colonies, just from the number of colonies, possessing these can bolster Portugal’s influence, can’t it?

The sovereignty of these colonies isn’t what the Portuguese Government cares most about; the real concern is the land that Spain is willing to allow Portugal to colonize. They hope that after fully colonizing these lands, the Portuguese Government will then transfer the sovereignty of the West African Colony.

However, such terms are definitely unacceptable to Spain. This essentially means that over an extended period, the Spanish Government wouldn’t gain anything.

Even though Spain allows Portugal to colonize the land south of the Congo, Carlo and the Spanish Government are well aware that Portugal will find it difficult to fully colonize the land south of the Congo.

From the British actions in South Africa, it’s clear that the British also have considerable ambitions for the land north of South Africa.

The British would certainly not be willing for Portugal to stand in their way, blocking the northward expansion of the South African Colony.

If the British prevent Portuguese colonial expansion, wouldn’t that mean Portugal could never fully colonize the land south of the Congo?

By then, Portugal would gain part of the land south of the Congo, the British would obtain the rest, and Spain would gain nothing, leaving Spain with nowhere to justify this.

Spain’s stance is also clear: they can allow Portugal to first colonize a portion of the land and then subsequently hand over the sovereignty of the West African colonies to Spain.

Spain is even willing to provide support to Portugal, including weapons and food supplies, to help Portugal colonize the land south of the Congo faster.

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