France Reaffirms Sovereignty Over Disputed Pacific Islands Amidst Vanuatu's ICJ Bid
France has firmly reiterated its sovereignty over the uninhabited Pacific Ocean islands of Matthew and Hunter, which are also claimed by Vanuatu. This reaffirmation comes as Vanuatu seeks to initiate a case against France at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. Eleonore Caroit, a junior minister at the French Foreign Ministry, stated that Paris has acknowledged Vanuatu's move and will respond in due course. Under ICJ rules, the case can only proceed if France agrees to the international judges' jurisdiction. The volcanic islands, with a combined area of less than 1 square kilometer, are strategically important as they provide France with an exclusive economic zone of 350,000 square kilometers. Vanuatu, which gained independence from joint British and French rule in 1980, has accused France of colonialism over the dispute, with Prime Minister Jotham Napat threatening to use all diplomatic and international legal means if discussions fail. 
