Vanuatu files ICJ application seeking sovereignty over French-controlled Pacific islands

Vanuatu has filed an application with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) seeking sovereignty over two small Pacific islands controlled by France: Umaenupne (Matthew Island) and Umaeneg/Leka (Hunter Island). The ICJ announced the filing on Tuesday, noting that it will not take action until France consents to the court's jurisdiction. The dispute stems from colonial-era arrangements and has become a political issue in France, with far-right parties accusing the government of being prepared to surrender French territory. Vanuatu argues that its decolonisation is incomplete without the return of the islands. The islands are uninhabited volcanic islets about 300 km east of New Caledonia, and sovereignty affects control over surrounding waters and seabed resources. Bilateral negotiations in 2018, 2019, and 2025 failed to resolve the dispute, leading Vanuatu to seek international adjudication.