How did Spain and Portugal protect their claims in the Americas?

Spain and Portugal protected their claims in the Americas by informing the colonies.

Explanation:

By 1763, there were just three significant Spanish settlements in the Florida state. Every one of the solutions was based on fortresses, and all were in the north. Spain's region - north of Mexico were known as the borderlands, and their principle capacity was to shield Mexico from other European forces. They set up missions to spread Christianity to the district's Native Americans, although from the start, they had little achievement. Although they were exhausted, Natives lacked the authority over their lives in the missions.

I think it is that they built up multiple armies/navies under different company names.