France and Vanuatu begin talks over disputed Matthew and Hunter islands

France and Vanuatu have begun formal negotiations over the future of Matthew and Hunter islands, two small volcanic islands east of New Caledonia that have been at the centre of a sovereignty dispute for decades. Vanuatu is seeking to secure sovereignty over the islands, which remain under French control as part of New Caledonia. The talks mark a new phase in a long-running territorial disagreement that has been politically sensitive in both countries.

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The islands lie about 300 kilometres east of New Caledonia and are described as rugged, mineral-rich and volcanically active. Matthew Island and Hunter Island are separated by about 15 kilometres, and the landscape has been compared with Vanuatu's Tafea Province to the north. According to the supplied material, France reinforced its claim in 1975 by installing plaques declaring sovereignty, shortly before Vanuatu gained independence in 1980.

The dispute is not only about territory but also about identity and cultural connection. Communities in Vanuatu's southern islands refer to the islands as Umaenupne and Umaeneg, and a 2011 United Nations report recognised them as places of worship and ritual that date back many generations. The supplied material also says Tafea Province has strong cultural ties to the islands, adding to Vanuatu's argument that they belong within its sphere.

The latest talks come after New Caledonia's pro-independence president publicly backed Vanuatu's claim last month. That position has widened political divisions with New Caledonia's French-loyalist government, which later suspended trade ties with Vanuatu. Vanuatu's prime minister has also accused France of dragging its feet ahead of a second round of talks expected in Paris later this month.

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The negotiations matter because they involve two states with competing historical claims over a strategically sensitive part of the South Pacific. Although the islands are small and uninhabited, the dispute touches on sovereignty, regional influence and the legacy of colonial-era boundary decisions. The fact that the islands are under French control as part of New Caledonia gives the issue added weight in a wider debate over the territory's political future.

The islands themselves have become symbols in that broader contest. The supplied material describes Matthew Island as having an active volcano and thousands of birds, while Hunter Island is noted for sulphur-yellow cliffs and a landscape that is unusual for New Caledonia. Those physical differences have been used to underline the argument that the islands are more closely linked to Vanuatu's geography and culture than to New Caledonia's.

The dispute has been present since Vanuatu's independence in 1980, but the current talks suggest both sides are now under pressure to clarify their positions. The public backing from New Caledonia's pro-independence leadership has complicated the picture further, because it cuts across the stance of the French-loyalist administration. The suspension of trade ties has also shown that the disagreement is already affecting relations beyond the islands themselves.

What remains unclear is whether the negotiations will produce any immediate change in control or lead to a compromise arrangement. A second round of talks is expected in Paris later this month, and the positions of France, Vanuatu and New Caledonia's rival political camps will be closely watched. For now, the dispute remains unresolved, with sovereignty, cultural claims and regional politics all still in play.

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