Which European country was the first to establish a permanent settlement in the Caribbean?

The first European country to establish a permanent settlement in the Caribbean was Spain, which laid the groundwork for subsequent colonization in the region. In 1492, Christopher Columbus, sailing under the Spanish flag, made his first voyage to the Americas and reached islands such as the Bahamas. Following this, in 1496, the Spanish founded Santo Domingo on the island of Hispaniola, which is considered the first permanent European settlement in the Caribbean.

This early settlement was significant because it served as a base for further Spanish exploration and colonization efforts throughout the Caribbean and the mainland of the Americas. The Spanish established missions, military outposts, and agricultural colonies, paving the way for the extensive colonization that followed by other European powers. The wealth extracted from the Caribbean through resources like sugar, tobacco, and gold influenced the economies and politics of Europe profoundly during the Age of Exploration.