Vanuatu escalates long-running island dispute with France to ICJ

Vanuatu has formally brought its territorial dispute with France to the International Court of Justice, seeking resolution over two small uninhabited islands in the South Pacific. The case was filed at the ICJ in The Hague, according to court officials on Tuesday, representing a significant step in a longstanding disagreement between the two nations.

The dispute centres on two islands whose sovereignty has been contested between Vanuatu and France for many years. The escalation to the ICJ's bench signals Vanuatu's determination to resolve the matter through international legal channels rather than bilateral negotiations.

The International Court of Justice, the primary judicial body of the United Nations, handles disputes between member states on matters of international law. A ruling from the court would be binding on both parties, potentially ending decades of uncertainty over the islands' status.

The case highlights ongoing territorial tensions in the Pacific region, where numerous island nations and external powers have overlapping claims to strategic maritime zones and small island territories. Vanuatu's move reflects broader efforts by Pacific island states to assert their sovereignty and territorial rights through international legal mechanisms.