Vanuatu has renewed its territorial claim over the remote, uninhabited Matthew and Hunter Islands, located approximately 300 kilometers east of New Caledonia. The islands are also claimed by France as part of New Caledonia. The dispute dates back to the 1970s, and Vanuatu has repeatedly raised the issue at the United Nations and other international forums.
In a statement on June 24, 2026, Vanuatu's government formally demanded that France hand back the islands, citing historical and cultural ties. The islands are believed by some ni-Vanuatu to be inhabited by a god, and they are used by fishermen from both Vanuatu and New Caledonia. The area is also rich in marine resources and potential seabed minerals.
France has not yet officially responded to the latest demand. The French government maintains that the islands are an integral part of New Caledonia, a French overseas territory. The dispute is complicated by ongoing decolonization discussions in New Caledonia, which held three referendums on independence from France between 2018 and 2021, ultimately choosing to remain part of France.
Vanuatu's claim is based on the islands' location within its exclusive economic zone and traditional use by its people. The issue is expected to be discussed at the next Pacific Islands Forum meeting. The islands remain uninhabited, with no permanent fresh water source, but are occasionally visited by scientists and fishermen.
