Trump’s love for gold is no secret. From the golden splendor of Trump Tower to the brilliant Bal room of Mar-A-Lago, the president is known to delight for everything that shines.
But has a gold opportunity appeared so that Trump takes control of a tropical island with his own gold mine?
Bougainville, who is currently part of Papua New Guinea, voted massively for independence in 2019, but the survey was not binding. Now a local chief says he is open to an agreement to be part of the United States.
Given the strategic importance of the island in any future war with China, it could be worth it!
The president of Bougainville, the former rebel commander Ishmael Toroama, says: “If the United States comes and says:” Yes, we support the independence of Bougainville “, then, I can say:” Well, the Panguna mine is there. “” ‘
“Bougainville is for independence. This is only a matter of time ”, he told the world in October, setting 2027 as a goal for stupid state.
At the center of the battle for independence is the immense natural wealth of Bougainville – in particular the dormant pany mine, formerly one of the largest sources of copper and gold in the world.
It is estimated that it still has 5.84 million tonnes of copper and nearly 20 million ounces of gold – worth around 60 billion dollars today.
Bougainville, a Pacific archipelago rich in resources, could become the most recent country in the world – and some believe that Donald Trump could see him as the century.
The islands hold about 60 billion dollars of copper and gold, mainly in the closed Panga mine, which makes it an economic and strategic price
With its mineral riches and its location just north of Australia, Bougainville is considered a potential price in the growing power struggle between the United States and China.
The former High Commissioner of Australia at the PNG, Ian Kemish, however, is not convinced. “I don’t really think it’s going to be very interesting,” he told Sun. “But from a geopolitical point of view, an independent Bougainville could be useful in the United States or China.”
Despite 98% of voters who support the split, the full state path remains blocked in political limbo, the PNG parliament showing little appetite to let the region are rich in minerals.
“The simple fact is that the national parliament has no wish to see Bougainville leave,” added Kemish. “The two parts have avoided the confrontation, but there is still a lot of tension.”
This tension is rooted in a bloody past. Bougainville declared independence once before in 1975 – but was absorbed by the PNG a year later, causing a civil war which raged from 1988 to 1997, making thousands of lives.
A 2001 peace agreement promised a future vote – delivered in 2019 – but legal independence still requires PNG approval.
With PNG missing a deadline for ratification in 2023 fixed in the Kone era clause, doubts increase. “They believe that the territorial integrity of the nation is at stake,” said Kemish. “If they let a bit leave, other bits will want to follow.”
Although closed since the civil war, the Panguna mine remains the cornerstone of the Bougainville dream for economic independence.
In the photo: the closed pany mine, which boasted of huge copper and gold reserves
In the photo: the main mine of the arc in Panaguna, 20 miles from Kirta on Bougainville on October 3, 1969
President Ishmael Toroama alluded to a daring offer, saying, saying: “Well, the Panguna mine is there. It is to you: “suggesting that Bougainville could host American support in exchange for access (photo: air view of the copper mine from 1974)
“We have to unlock Bougainville’s economic potential,” added Toroama. “No one will stop our people.
Hosting just over 300,000 people, Bougainville is among the smallest nations in the world, roughly the size of Cyprus.
Its nearest neighbor, the Solomon Islands, has already looked at Beijing, adding more intrigue of the fate of Bougainville.
If he succeeds in gaining recognition, Bougainville would be the first new country admitted to the UN from South Sudan in 2011.
This is not the first time that Trump has launched daring territorial ambitions.
Shortly after taking office, the former real estate magnate became the amazed president of the world leaders by expressing his interest in the purchase of Greenland, the vast Arctic island governed by Denmark.
In 2019, Trump confirmed that the United States was planning to buy the territory, citing its strategic value, its abundant natural resources and its potential for military expansion.
“Essentially, this is a big real estate affair,” he told journalists at the time, calling the proposal “a lot for the United States”.
The idea was quickly rejected by Danish officials, who called the “absurd” notion. The Greenland government has also published a firm declaration: “Greenland is not for sale”.
The diplomatic benefits degenerated to the point where Trump canceled a planned state visit to Denmark after Prime Minister Put Frederiksen resumed the offer.
However, Trump never fell the proposal – rather suggesting that it was a negligent warning decision by other leaders. “I just looked at him strategically. It would be good, “he said later.
“We have to unlock Bougainville’s economic potential,” said Toroama earlier in October 2024. “No one will stop our people”
Despite a 98% vote for independence in 2019, the Parliament of Papua New Guinea did not ratify the result, fearing national fragmentation.
His Greenland offer has marked one of the most daring foreign policy suggestions of his presidency – so far.
Trump also played with the idea of making Canada the 51st state.
He would have joked by saying that former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau becomes an American governor and wondered why the two countries were not only one, citing a shared culture and commercial ties.
Although probably ironic, he mentioned the idea more than once – suggesting the use of prices as a lever effect.
Canadian officials and the public firmly rejected this notion, but this corresponds to the vision model of Trump’s geopolitics through the objective of a profession.
The Dailymail.com contacted the White House to comment.
