Donald Trump, drawing on his background in real estate, has allegedly been presented with the opportunity to acquire Bougainville Island, along with its sizable gold mine, dubbed as the ‘deal of the century’.
Currently part of Papua New Guinea, Bougainville voted overwhelmingly for independence in a 2019 referendum — but the result wasn’t legally binding.
However, Bougainville’s president, former rebel commander Ishmael Toroama, remains undeterred.
‘Bougainville is for independence. It is only a matter of time,’ he told The World in October, setting 2027 as the target for full statehood.
Then, there’s the prospect of Bougainville becoming part of the United States.
‘If the US decides to announce their support for Bougainville’s independence, then I could suggest, “Well, the Panguna mine is here. It’s your call,”’ Toroama expressed.
The central point in the struggle for independence revolves around Bougainville’s abundant natural resources, specifically the inactive Panguna mine, which was previously one of the leading sources of copper and gold globally.
It’s estimated to still hold 5.84 million tons of copper and nearly 20 million ounces of gold — worth around $60 billion today.
Bougainville, a resource-rich Pacific archipelago, could become the world’s newest country—and some believe Donald Trump might see it as the deal of the century.
The islands hold an estimated $60 billion in copper and gold, mainly in the shuttered Panguna mine, making them an economic and strategic prize
With its mineral riches and location just north of Australia, Bougainville is seen as a potential prize in the growing power struggle between the U.S. and China.
Australia’s former High Commissioner to PNG, Ian Kemish, however, isn’t convinced. ‘I don’t really believe that it’s going to be of much interest,’ he told The Sun. ‘But from a geopolitical point of view, an independent Bougainville could be useful to either the U.S. or China.’
Despite 98 percent of voters backing the split, the path to full statehood remains stalled in political limbo, with PNG’s parliament showing little appetite to let the mineral-rich region go.
‘The simple fact is that the national parliament has no wish at all to see Bougainville go,’ Kemish added. ‘Both sides have been avoiding confrontation, but there’s a lot of tension left in this.’
That tension is rooted in a bloody past. Bougainville declared independence once before in 1975 — but was absorbed by PNG a year later, sparking a civil war that raged from 1988 to 1997, claiming thousands of lives.
A 2001 peace deal promised a future vote — delivered in 2019 — but legal independence still requires PNG’s approval.
With PNG missing a 2023 ratification deadline set in the Era Kone Covenant, doubts are growing. ‘They feel the territorial integrity of the nation is at stake,’ said Kemish. ‘If they let one bit go, other bits will want to follow.’
Though shuttered since the civil war, the Panguna mine remains the cornerstone of Bougainville’s dream for economic independence.
Pictured: The shuttered Panguna mine, that boasted enormous copper and gold reserves
Pictured: The main mine of C.R.A. at Panaguna, 20 miles from Kirta on Bougainville on October 3, 1969
President Ishmael Toroama has hinted at a bold offer, reportedly saying, ‘Well, the Panguna mine is here. It’s up to you,’ suggesting Bougainville could welcome U.S. support in exchange for access (Pictured: Aerial view of copper mine from 1974)
‘We have to unlock the economic potential of Bougainville,’ Toroama added. ‘No one will stop our people.’
Home to just over 300,000 people, Bougainville would be among the world’s smallest nations, roughly the size of Cyprus.
Its closest neighbor, the Solomon Islands, has already leaned toward Beijing—adding further intrigue to Bougainville’s fate.
If it succeeds in gaining recognition, Bougainville would be the first new country admitted to the UN since South Sudan in 2011.
This is not the first time Trump has floated bold territorial ambitions.
Shortly after taking office, the former real estate mogul turned president stunned global leaders by expressing interest in purchasing Greenland, the vast Arctic island governed by Denmark.
In 2019, Trump confirmed reports that the U.S. was considering buying the territory, citing its strategic value, abundant natural resources, and potential for military expansion.
‘Essentially, it’s a large real estate deal,’ he told reporters at the time, calling the proposal ‘a great deal for the United States.’
The idea was swiftly rejected by Danish officials, who called the notion ‘absurd.’ Greenland’s government also issued a firm statement: ‘Greenland is not for sale.’
The diplomatic fallout escalated to the point where Trump canceled a planned state visit to Denmark after Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rebuffed the offer.
Still, Trump never walked back the proposal—suggesting instead that it was a savvy move overlooked by other leaders. ‘I just looked at it strategically. It would be nice,’ he later said.
‘We have to unlock the economic potential of Bougainville,’ Toroama said earlier in October 2024. ‘No one will stop our people’
Despite a 98 percent vote for independence in 2019, Papua New Guinea’s parliament hasn’t ratified the result, fearing national fragmentation.
His Greenland bid marked one of the most audacious foreign policy suggestions of his presidency — until now.
Trump has also toyed with the idea of making Canada the 51st state.
He reportedly joked about former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau becoming a U.S. governor and questioned why the two countries weren’t just one, citing shared culture and trade ties.
Though likely tongue-in-cheek, he mentioned the idea more than once — hinting at using tariffs as leverage.
Canadian officials and the public have firmly rejected the notion, but it fits Trump’s pattern of viewing geopolitics through the lens of a dealmaker.
The DailyMail.com has reached out to the White House for comment.
