France digs in on Pacific islands claim as Vanuatu turns to World Court

France is facing pressure to consent to the International Court of Justice taking up a decades-old territorial feud with Vanuatu, after Paris firmly reasserted its sovereignty over two strategically vital Pacific islands.

Vanuatu filed an application with the UN’s top court earlier this week seeking recognition of its claim over the uninhabited Matthew and Hunter islands. However, the case cannot proceed without French consent, prompting Vanuatu to warn it would seek a UN General Assembly opinion if Paris blocks its ICJ bid.

The ICJ, also known as the World Court, will not immediately accept the case. Under the court’s rules, the case can only proceed if France agrees international judges have jurisdiction over its disputes with other states.

“No action will be taken ⁠in the proceedings unless and until France consents to the Court’s jurisdiction in the ‌case,” the ICJ said in a press statement on Tuesday.

France on Wednesday insisted on its sovereignty over the uninhabited islands of Matthew and Hunter, which are some 300km (190 miles) east of the French territory of New ‌Caledonia and southeast of Vanuatu. Eleonore Caroit, a junior minister at the French foreign ministry, said Paris had taken note of the move by Vanuatu over the islands and would give its response in due course.

While the tiny islands cover less than 1 sq km of land, their ownership guarantees an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 350,000 sq km. Control over these territorial waters dictates fishing rights and the exploitation of rich seabed resources.