Vanuatu escalates sovereignty claim over France-held Matthew and Hunter islands
Vanuatu's Prime Minister Jotham Napat used a parliamentary address this week to accuse France of "dragging its feet" on negotiations over the disputed Matthew and Hunter islands (known by their kastom names Umaenupne and Umaeneg), citing two postponements and France's withholding of historical documents underpinning its claim. France has controlled the uninhabited islands since 1965 and they remain part of its vast maritime domain; Macron pledged formal negotiations during his 2023 Vanuatu visit and renewed the commitment in July 2025, but no resolution has emerged. Napat vowed to "defend our sovereignty with determination" and rejected a passive approach. The dispute is being framed in Australian media as a "David versus Goliath" struggle with potential global ripple effects.
Why it matters
The islands sit at the intersection of decolonization grievances and strategic maritime interests: France's overseas territories underpin its claim to the world's largest exclusive economic zone and bolster its global influence, so French politicians fear that ceding them could trigger similar claims from Mexico to Madagascar. The standoff plays out amid intensifying great-power competition in the Pacific, where Australia, France, China and the US are all vying for influence, making even tiny uninhabited islets geopolitically sensitive.