The president of an island that stands on gold and copper has a proposal for Donald Trump: “It is available. It depends on them”
Donald Trump, known for his passion for opulence and gold, could do the business of the century if he would accept the president of a Papua New Guinea island, known for his resources, especially for the inactive mine, once one of the largest sources of copper and gold in the world.
Panguna mine, one of the largest sources of copper and gold in the world. Photo Facebook/Amazing PNG
The inhabitants of Bougainville Island, who are currently part of Papua New Guinea, voted overwhelmingly for independence in 2019, but the referendum was not mandatory. Now, a local leader says he is open to an agreement by which the island becomes part of the United States.
Given the strategic significance of the island in any future war with China, it could be an agreement that deserves its weight!
The president of the island, Ishmael Toroama, a former rebel commander, said he would support an alliance with the US in exchange for recognizing independence.
“If America supports us, Panguna Mina is available. It depends on them.”he said, according to Dailymail.
“Bougainville is for independence. It is only a matter of time,” the president said in October 2024, establishing 2027 as a target for obtaining the full state.
The stake for supporting Donald Trump is the huge natural richness of Bougainville, especially the inactive mine, once one of the largest copper and gold sources in the world.
It is estimated that it still owns 5.84 million tonnes of copper and almost 20 million gold, worth about $ 60 billion today.
Due to its mineral riches and its position north of Australia, Bougainville is also considered a potential advantage in the growth struggle between the US and China.
Despite the fact that 98% of the voters supported the island's independence, the leadership of Papua New Guinea does not want to give up the rich region. Bougainville declared independence once in 1975, but was absorbed by PNG a year later, triggering a civil war that ravaged between 1988 and 1997, making thousands of victims.
With just over 300. 000 inhabitants, Bougainville would be one of the smallest nations in the world, with approximately the size of Cyprus, but its strategic position, north of Australia, turns it into a valuable pawn in the US-China confrontation for influence in the Pacific. While the neighboring country – Solomon Islands – approached Beijing, Bougainville could give Washington a significant advantage.
At the same time, Donald Trump is not a stranger to controversial territorial proposals. Since the beginning of his second term, he has already suggested the purchase or even annexation of Greenland and the transformation of Canada into a US state.
In the case of Bougainville Island, however, the opportunity could be real: a small nation, with 300,000 inhabitants, rich in resources and eager for independence.
The White House has not commented the subject so far.
