Weeks of rioting in the French overseas territory of New Caledonia have brought longstanding issues there to global attention. With a negotiated settlement unlikely, further violence is a possibility.
A good in-depth article that I very much enjoyed. I think there are wider geo-political issues that this conflict highlights that I think would be worth more investigation. For instance, Melanesia is currently caught in a period of intense Sino-American competition. China seeking to build influence in the area, the US and Australia on a diplomatic offensive to limit China's influence. Melanesia is a area that Australia's current defence strategy focusses on. The article points out the long-history of armed Kanak struggle and tension has been mediated, rather than resolved for last 30 years. This base of support for independence means that New Caledonia could be fertile ground for an insurgency. Further, nearby French Polynesia another French colony also has a significant underground independence movement. And, the New Caledonia's Melenesian and Pacific neighbours tend to be ex-colonies that spent the 1970a and 80s protesting against French nuclear testing in the Pacific. So there is likely to be little local support for France. A profound concern during a period of Sino-American competition because conflict provides opportunities for de-stabilisation operations. We may already be seeing foreign intervention in New Caledonia, news agencies Al Jazeera and the Guardian reporting the relationship and support that Azerbaijan provides the independence movement. It is also interesting that France shut down Tik Tok on the island. It would great to see you unpack this situation some more. Links to the articles - https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/17/france-blames-azerbaijan-for-new-caledonia-violence-unpacking-their-spat
A good in-depth article that I very much enjoyed. I think there are wider geo-political issues that this conflict highlights that I think would be worth more investigation. For instance, Melanesia is currently caught in a period of intense Sino-American competition. China seeking to build influence in the area, the US and Australia on a diplomatic offensive to limit China's influence. Melanesia is a area that Australia's current defence strategy focusses on. The article points out the long-history of armed Kanak struggle and tension has been mediated, rather than resolved for last 30 years. This base of support for independence means that New Caledonia could be fertile ground for an insurgency. Further, nearby French Polynesia another French colony also has a significant underground independence movement. And, the New Caledonia's Melenesian and Pacific neighbours tend to be ex-colonies that spent the 1970a and 80s protesting against French nuclear testing in the Pacific. So there is likely to be little local support for France. A profound concern during a period of Sino-American competition because conflict provides opportunities for de-stabilisation operations. We may already be seeing foreign intervention in New Caledonia, news agencies Al Jazeera and the Guardian reporting the relationship and support that Azerbaijan provides the independence movement. It is also interesting that France shut down Tik Tok on the island. It would great to see you unpack this situation some more. Links to the articles - https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/17/france-blames-azerbaijan-for-new-caledonia-violence-unpacking-their-spat
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/17/new-caledonia-riots-explainer-azerbaijan-flags-noumea-link