Background
Germany was a latecomer in the Empire Race, as the race was already well under way when the country was unified in 1871. Germany, like almost all European nations during the late 19th century, wanted the honor and security of having a large colonial empire so it could increase its power and wealth. German foreign policy in that period was intensely nationalistic; it changed from Realpolitik to the more aggressive Weltpolitik in an effort to expand the German Empire.
Kaiser Wilhelm II was jealous of the growing American economic influence over the Pacific and South America. He determined to intervene and replace American with German economic power. He felt that having a major Caribbean naval base in Cuba or Puerto Rico would be the first step to dividing the US from South America, and it would serve to counter American control of the Panama Canal which was then under construction.
Read more about this topic: Operational Plan Three
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