The Vanuatu Government has condemned a letter attributed to French National Assembly member Nicolas Metzdorf, describing it as insulting, neo-colonial and disrespectful of Vanuatu’s sovereignty.
The letter, dated 01 October 2026, has been circulating on social media and is addressed to the Prime Minister of the “Condominium of the New Hebrides”.
The Vanuatu Government said the letter was not officially received by Prime Minister Jotham Napat or his office through diplomatic channels.
In a statement, the Government’s Public Relations Officer said the tone and content of the letter did not warrant a formal response from the Prime Minister.
The Government said referring to Vanuatu as the “New Hebrides” was unacceptable, noting that the country ended its Anglo-French condominium and became independent in 1980.
“Vanuatu is not the New Hebrides. We ceased to be a condominium in 1980,” the statement said.
It said Vanuatu had chosen sovereignty and independence and rejected any suggestion that its independence could be questioned.
The Government also rejected comments concerning Matthew and Hunter Islands, which Vanuatu claims as part of its territory.
It said the islands were part of Vanuatu’s history and customary claims, and rejected any characterisation of those claims as a “fraternal initiative”.
The statement also criticised comments attributed to Metzdorf concerning Vanuatu’s economy and currency, the vatu.
The Government rejected any suggestion that Vanuatu’s territory, ocean resources or citizenship could be exchanged for economic or other benefits.
“Vanuatu is not for sale. Our citizenship is not a joke for your amusement,” the statement said.
The Government also challenged what it described as criticism of Vanuatu’s financial transparency, governance and use of humanitarian assistance.
It questioned France’s record in New Caledonia, including economic and political challenges and the unresolved issue of Kanak self-determination.
The statement said aid provided following natural disasters should not be used as a basis for political influence over Vanuatu.
“Let us be very clear: Vanuatu is a sovereign nation. We are not a French province,” the statement said.
The Government said the letter should be condemned in France because its language was inconsistent with the principles represented by the French Republic’s motto of “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité”.
It also said the correspondence should be brought to the attention of the Pacific Islands Forum and the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization as an example of what it described as continuing colonial attitudes within parts of the French political establishment.
The Government’s response comes amid continuing regional debate over the status of New Caledonia, decolonisation and Vanuatu’s territorial claims over Matthew and Hunter Islands.
Vanuatu has consistently maintained its sovereignty and territorial claims while supporting the right of the Kanak people of New Caledonia to determine their political status.
