Will be just a pointless then as it would be now. More likely to happen with Chinese though - they still got something to "prove" to the world and economy to match that.
And if they'll plan for it it'll probably happen with our nuclear tug - after all it is already fully planned on reactor side and all that it needed is to actually build it.
Columbus was financed by Spanish; current dominant American entity is offshoot of English empire though.Jamestown and Early British Colonies gave the United States its distinctive Anglo foundation just as Spanish and Portuguese colonies did the same in Latin America.
Human civilization elsewhere in the Solar System over the next few hundred years will similarly be dictated by whoever sets the foundation in the century ahead. I'm very inclined to see that it has an American character.
First-mover advantage is pretty low, and everyone had their robots there already anyway.
It is most likely that early 22nd Century Russia will be working on Arctic and resources there. We'll probably be solidifying our nuclear advantage with closed nuclear cycle by then, and possibly some fusion.It'll be the height of irony if in the early 22nd century Russia, if it is around, is still up to mischief in Ukraine and its near abroad, much like the prior 300 years, while America is building up a territory on Mars.
Unapologetically, I do want the US to annex Mars one day. 100% not joking.
Go ahead with Mars.