No it aint.
And once again in the context of what a Colony is they fall short. Why? History. Compare the history of Puerto Rico to that of ANY British/Spanish/French and Portuguese colony and you'll find it obvious that they our A and your B are not the same. Stop it. This is silly now.
Yes lets look at history. The UK, France and just about eveybody else went to the America's and Africa and Asia, some places they bought land and established colonies, in other places the "defeated" the natives and seized territory. Over time the colonial powers traded territory across the globe in various wars and deals, but the areas remained colonies under the full control ultimately by the holding country.
Now lets look at Puerto Rico. How did the US get that area? In a war against the Spanish. Hence the area was transferred from colonial Spain to the US.. was it set free? no.
Now fast forward to today, 100 years after the conquest of the colonial Spanish colony of Puerto Rico. Is the colony independent? no. Does it have full control over its own territory? no. Is it a state of the US? no. Is it a full member of the US? no.
And again the difference between a COLONY and a PUERTO RICO is that a COLONY never had a choice in the matter. Thus their status as a COLONY. Puerto Ricans can at any point decide whether or not they wish to remain a Commonwealth or become a state. So far they've chosen to remain a Commonwealth. So you calling it a colony is a bit disingenuous. When did we show up in Puerto Rico and claim it as our own? What war did we have with Puerto Ricans over sovereignty? Any? At all? The 13 Colonies had a war of independence. Cuba had a war of independence. Mexico had a war of independence. Why? Because we were all colonies. Show me what makes Puerto Rico a colony?
Give me a break. Peurto Rico was seized in war! The people were never given a choice before the 1950s, 60 years after being taken! even though you promised even before the war I believe to "free the peoples of Spanish colonial rule".. yea right.
War with whom? The Puerto Ricans? Or Spain? Again you're being disingenuous. At what point in history did we force Puerto Rico to be a commonwealth or a colony of any sort? The military occupation lasted a total of 2 years. Almost right after both of the democratic parties created in P.R. by Puerto Ricans supported annexation by the United States. Now how this amounts to what a colony is. You know what the British/Spanish/French/Portuguese did is beyond me.
LOL where did you read that? The fact that the colonial power gave the people limited popular governance does not change the fact that it is a colony. The Brits gave the locals in India "popular" governance of the day, but I doubt you will claim that India was not a colony.
Seriously it is a classic colonial attitude of " the people asked us to be here" crap. Sure they might say so now, but that dont change the fact that the first many decades of US rule they did not have any choice. The only area that did have a choice was Cuba and they left. Both the Philippines and Puerto Rico was run like a colony for decades before war forced the US to change attitude.
It also does not change the rulings of SC of the USA about areas like Puerto Rico that gives ultimate power to the US Congress and President. Also it categorises it as "a territory appurtenant and belonging to the United States, but not a part of the United States ".. that is a freaking colony lol.
And lets look at the political structure of the island. For one they can elect the governor. Congrats! Can he chose his own government? Yes but only with the consent of the US. Okay can that government legislate on things like citizenship, currency, postal service, foreign affairs, military defense, communications, labor relations, the environment, commerce, finance, health and welfare, and many others? No.. that is the prerogative of the US congress.
And you are saying they are not a colony?
You keep saying it but it doesn't make it so. Obviously if you want to compare us to what Europeans did with their colonies then look for what you think is a colony then you'll find one.
Listen I never said there was not differences.. one of them is that you started your colonies in the late 1800s where Europeans started them 400 years earlier. Times were different.