Key Facts about New Caledonia

About New Caledonia:

• New Caledonia is a French overseas territory located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, approximately 1,500 km east of Australia.

History of Island:

• New Caledonia, originally inhabited by the Kanaks, came under French control in 1853.
• Post-WWII, Kanaks gained French citizenship, but 1960s French migration made them a minority, sparking an independence movement.
• Tensions led to the Matignon Agreements (1988) and Nouméa Accord (1998), promising three independence referendums.
• The 2018 and 2020 referendums favoured France. Despite COVID-19 concerns, the 2021 referendum also favoured France, angering the Kanaks.

Significance of New Caledonia for France:

• Strategic location: Situated in the South Pacific, New Caledonia provides France with a military and geopolitical presence in a region with growing global interest, particularly with increasing influence from China.

Economic resources: The island is rich in natural resources, notably nickel, which is vital for various industries, including manufacturing and technology.

Q1: What is the Schengen area?

Schengen Area is a group of 27 European nations that have abolished their internal borders, for the unrestricted movement of people. Members of this area include 23 of the 27 EU member states (except for Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania) and all members of the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway are not in the EU but are inside of the Schengen Area.

Source: What is happening in the French territory of New Caledonia?