A relaunch of diplomatic negotiations with Vanuatu over two uninhabited islets near New Caledonia has sparked outrage from the far right and Caledonian officials. Paris has no intention of ceding these rocks, which grant France a vast exclusive economic zone. The controversy stems from a misinterpretation of a recent article.
France is grappling with an unfounded controversy accusing President Emmanuel Macron of selling off overseas territories. It all began with an article in Le Figaro Magazine on December 14, claiming that two “bits of France” might be handed over to Vanuatu. These islets, named Matthew and Hunter – or Umaenupne and Leka in the local language –, are uninhabited and cover just under one square kilometer. Yet, they provide France with 350,000 square kilometers of exclusive economic zone in the Pacific.
Disputed for decades between Paris and Port-Vila, these rocks have strained bilateral relations since Vanuatu’s independence in 1980, formerly the Franco-British condominium of the New Hebrides. Recently, France relaunched diplomatic talks on the issue, triggering strong reactions. Parts of the far right and the right have decried a clear message: “France is auctioning off its empire.”
Senator Christophe-André Frassa, from Les Républicains and representing French expatriates, submitted a written question to Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. He argues that any potential “territorial retreat” in the region “could undermine national cohesion in New Caledonia.” Caledonian elected officials have also voiced outrage, fearing effects on local stability. French authorities, however, emphasize no intention to cede the islets, highlighting their strategic value for France’s presence in Oceania.
