EU-Nickel Deal: New Caledonia and the European Commission signed a partnership to develop sustainable raw-material supply chains, with nickel at its centre. The agreement promises a framework for cooperation on investment, infrastructure, training and research, but guarantees neither funding nor nickel purchases; a roadmap is due within six months. Decolonisation Debate: Pacific churches rejected the US call to end the UN decolonisation committee, saying its work remains vital while New Caledonia and five other Pacific territories remain on the UN list. Washington called the committee’s mandate outdated and its regional visits “junkets.” France-Azerbaijan Tensions: France accused an Azerbaijani group of stirring unrest in New Caledonia; Baku denied interference and accused Paris of confrontational rhetoric, sharpening a dispute over the territory’s political future.
AGP Executive Report
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EU-Nickel Deal: New Caledonia and the European Commission signed a strategic partnership to develop sustainable raw-material supply chains, with nickel at its core. President Milakulo Tukumuli and mining official Alcide Ponga signed with EU executive vice-president Stéphane Séjourné. The deal sets a framework for investment, infrastructure, training and research, but guarantees neither nickel purchases nor immediate funding; a project roadmap is due within six months. Decolonisation Debate: The Pacific Conference of Churches rejected a U.S. call to end the UN decolonisation committee, which lists New Caledonia as a non-self-governing territory, saying Pacific peoples must decide their political futures. France-Azerbaijan Row: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot accused an Azerbaijani group of stirring unrest in New Caledonia. Baku denied interference and called the allegations unfounded, deepening tensions between the two governments.
EU–New Caledonia Deal: Brussels and the territorial government signed a strategic partnership focused on sustainable nickel supply chains. New Caledonia produced 3.1% of global nickel in 2024; the agreement covers investment, infrastructure, training, research and environmental standards. Decolonisation Debate: The U.S. called for the UN Decolonisation Committee’s mandate to end, dismissing its Pacific visits as “junkets.” The Pacific Conference of Churches rejected the call, saying the committee remains vital to the right of territories including New Caledonia to determine their political future. France–Azerbaijan Tensions: Paris accused an Azerbaijani group of provocative activity in Nouméa and overseas territories. Baku denied interference and accused France of making unfounded claims, sharpening a diplomatic dispute over New Caledonia’s political divisions.
EU-Nickel Deal: EU vice-president Stéphane Séjourné says the bloc is ready to sign a pact with New Caledonia recognising nickel as a strategic resource, with support also proposed for training and infrastructure. France–Azerbaijan Dispute: Paris accused an Azerbaijani group of stirring unrest through conferences in Nouméa; Baku rejected the charge as unfounded, escalating a diplomatic row over New Caledonia’s political debate. Decolonisation: Pacific churches have condemned the U.S. call to end the UN decolonisation committee, saying its work gives New Caledonians and other Pacific peoples a voice in determining their future. Washington argues the committee has outlived its purpose and says territories should be free to choose among political options.
Decolonisation: Pacific churches have rejected the U.S. call to abolish the UN’s Decolonisation Committee, saying it must remain while territories including New Caledonia have yet to freely determine their future. Paris–Baku Row: France’s foreign minister accused an Azerbaijani group of stirring unrest in New Caledonia; Baku denied interference and called the claims unfounded. French Polynesia: Paris has opposed a proposed UN fact-finding mission on the territory’s future, as independence and autonomy supporters call for international monitoring and open dialogue. Digital Restrictions: French presidential hopeful Gabriel Attal has proposed a social-media blackout amid nationwide unrest. France previously blocked TikTok in New Caledonia during 2024 protests, a measure the country’s highest administrative court ruled disproportionate.
UN Decolonisation: The United States has urged the UN to abolish its decolonisation committee, calling its work and Pacific visits wasteful. New Caledonia is one of six Pacific territories on the UN’s list, and Washington says people should be free to choose among different political futures. France–Azerbaijan Tensions: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot accused an Azerbaijani group of stirring unrest in New Caledonia and other French territories. Baku rejected the charge as unfounded, deepening a diplomatic dispute over overseas territories and foreign influence. Pacific Policing: Pacific police chiefs endorsed the constitution of PACPOL, a new regional policing body, at their conference in October. New Caledonia was among the participants, alongside Wallis and Futuna, which joined as the organisation’s 23rd member. French Polynesia’s Future: France opposed UN involvement, including a proposed fact-finding mission, in discussions about French Polynesia’s political status. The dispute has renewed calls from supporters of independence and autonomy for international monitoring and open dialogue.
Paris–Baku Tensions: France’s foreign minister accused an Azerbaijani-linked group of stirring revolt in New Caledonia, while Baku rejected claims of interference and said Paris was dismissing local concerns. The dispute revives a diplomatic rift that had shown signs of easing after France welcomed the pardon of a French national jailed in Azerbaijan. Pacific Policing: Regional police chiefs endorsed the new Pacific Community of Policing, with New Caledonia among its members, formalising a framework for cooperation across the region. French Polynesia: Independence and autonomy supporters have jointly called for international monitoring of the territory’s political future, drawing renewed opposition from Paris to a UN fact-finding role.
Nouméa in France–Azerbaijan Row: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot accused an Azerbaijani group of holding conferences in Nouméa that called for revolt in France’s overseas territories. Baku rejected claims of interference and accused Paris of using confrontational rhetoric, keeping New Caledonia at the center of a widening diplomatic dispute. Pacific Policing: Pacific police chiefs endorsed the constitution of PACPOL, a new regional policing body, and elected Papua New Guinea’s David Manning as its first chair. New Caledonia is among its members.
France–Azerbaijan Row: France’s foreign minister accused an Azerbaijani-linked group of holding meetings in Nouméa that encourage revolt in French overseas territories. Baku rejected the charge as unfounded, saying Paris is using claims of foreign interference to dismiss local concerns. Pacific Policing: Regional police chiefs endorsed the new Pacific Community of Policing at their 14 October conference. New Caledonia took part, and Wallis and Futuna joined as the organisation’s 23rd member. Partner Violence: France’s Interior Ministry reported that two women in New Caledonia were killed by current or former partners in 2025, part of a national increase in women killed in such cases.
France–Azerbaijan Row: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot accused an Azerbaijani-linked group of holding “provocative” conferences in Nouméa and calling for revolt in French overseas territories. Baku rejected the charge as unfounded, saying Paris was dismissing the concerns of local populations. Pacific Policing: New Caledonia joined regional police chiefs in endorsing PACPOL’s constitution, establishing a Pacific-led framework for cooperation. Decolonisation Debate: In a separate dispute over French Polynesia, independence and autonomy supporters called for international monitoring of its political future; Paris opposes UN involvement in deciding the territory’s status.
Pacific Policing: Pacific police chiefs endorsed PACPOL, a new regional cooperation body, at their 14 October conference. New Caledonia is among its members; Papua New Guinea’s police chief will chair it. Nouméa Diplomatic Tensions: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot criticised an Azerbaijani group holding conferences in Nouméa and accused it of provocative activity. Baku rejected claims of interference in New Caledonia and called on Paris to stop what it described as unfounded allegations. Decolonisation Debate: France is resisting calls for UN monitoring of French Polynesia’s political future, as independence and autonomy supporters seek international oversight and open dialogue. Partner Violence: France’s 2025 figures recorded two killings by current or former partners in New Caledonia, among 111 women killed nationwide.
Nouméa–Baku Tensions: France’s foreign minister accused an Azerbaijani-linked group of provoking unrest in New Caledonia; Baku rejected the charge as unfounded and said Paris was using claims of foreign interference to dismiss local concerns. Pacific Policing: Regional police chiefs endorsed PACPOL, a new Pacific-led cooperation body, with New Caledonia among its members. Wallis and Futuna joined the chiefs’ organisation as its 23rd member. Decolonisation Debate: France opposed UN involvement in discussions on French Polynesia’s future, rejecting calls for international monitoring and a fact-finding mission.
Decolonisation Debate: France is resisting UN involvement in French Polynesia’s political future, opposing an international fact-finding mission and keeping consultations within French institutions. Independence and autonomy supporters have jointly called for international monitoring and open dialogue. Paris–Baku Row: Azerbaijan rejected French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot’s allegation that it interferes in rights movements in New Caledonia and other French territories, saying the claim dismisses local people’s concerns. UN Hearing: Indonesia protested after West Papua was raised during a Fourth Committee hearing on New Caledonia, demanding the remarks be ruled out of order and removed from the record.
France–Azerbaijan Dispute: Baku accused Paris of using “confrontational” rhetoric after French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot alleged Azerbaijan interfered in the rights struggles of people in New Caledonia and other French territories. Azerbaijan called the claims unfounded and urged France to respect the populations’ concerns. UN Decolonisation Hearing: Indonesia protested after a petitioner discussing New Caledonia called for West Papua to be restored to the UN decolonisation list. Jakarta sought to have the remarks ruled out of order and removed from the record. Regional Political Future: French Polynesia President Moetai Brotherson proposed a three-step UN process for determining the territory’s future, including public education, a UN visit and an agreed path to a referendum.
Paris–Baku Dispute: Azerbaijan rejected French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot’s allegations of interference in New Caledonia and other French territories, calling them unfounded and accusing Paris of confrontational rhetoric. The row puts foreign influence claims alongside the territories’ own demands for political rights. UN Decolonisation Debate: At a UN hearing on New Caledonia, petitioner Roland Arnold called for Kanak self-determination and raised West Papua’s status, prompting Indonesia to demand that his remarks be struck from the record. A Pacific bloc also called for a UN mission to New Caledonia. French Polynesia: President Moetai Brotherson proposed a UN-backed process to discuss political-status options, hear residents’ views and agree on a path to a referendum, urging France to begin structured dialogue.
Cyclone Outlook: New Caledonia faces a normal-to-reduced cyclone risk this season, but forecasters warn that severe storms could strike anywhere in the Southwest Pacific and urge communities to stay prepared. UN Decolonisation Debate: Pacific representatives renewed calls for a UN visiting mission to New Caledonia, citing political uncertainty and hardship after the deadly May 2024 unrest. At the same hearing, Indonesia protested when a petitioner linked New Caledonia’s self-determination debate to West Papua, demanding the remarks be ruled out of order and removed from the record.
New Caledonia’s Political Future: Pacific representatives at the UN urged a visiting mission to assess the territory’s political and economic conditions, with Papua New Guinea calling for it to happen soon. The Melanesian Spearhead Group also highlighted pressures facing Kanak communities after the deadly 2024 unrest. UN Hearing Dispute: Indonesia formally objected when a speaker at the New Caledonia hearing raised West Papua, asking that the remarks be ruled out of order and removed from the record. Regional Decolonisation: French Polynesia’s president proposed a UN information programme, a visiting mission and an agreed route to a referendum, while calling on France to begin formal dialogue.
UN Mission: Pacific countries renewed calls for a United Nations visiting mission to New Caledonia, saying an independent assessment could help address political uncertainty and hardship after the deadly 2024 unrest. Papua New Guinea urged the UN to fund the mission, while the Melanesian Spearhead Group backed self-determination. UN Dispute: Indonesia protested after a petitioner at a hearing on New Caledonia called for West Papua to be returned to the UN decolonisation list; Jakarta asked that the remarks be ruled out of order and removed from the record. Regional Diplomacy: Melanesian leaders, joined by representatives of New Caledonia’s FLNKS, discussed self-determination and human rights at a regional meeting alongside Pre-COP31.
UN Decolonisation Hearing: Indonesia formally protested after a petitioner raised West Papua during a UN Fourth Committee hearing on New Caledonia, demanding the remarks be ruled out of order and removed from the record. Call for UN Mission: Pacific representatives renewed calls for a visiting mission to New Caledonia, arguing an independent assessment could help address political uncertainty and hardship following the deadly 2024 unrest. Melanesian Agenda: At a regional leaders’ meeting in Fiji, New Caledonia’s FLNKS joined discussions on self-determination, human rights and strengthening the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
UN Decolonisation Debate: Indonesia formally protested after a speaker at a UN hearing on New Caledonia raised West Papua, asking that the remarks be struck from the record. Call for UN Mission: Pacific representatives renewed demands for a UN visiting mission to assess New Caledonia’s political uncertainty and social pressures, with Papua New Guinea urging it take place as soon as possible. Melanesian Agenda: MSG leaders, joined by FLNKS representatives, discussed New Caledonia’s self-determination and regional priorities at a meeting in Fiji. Regional Tensions: Vanuatu condemned remarks by a New Caledonian MP as neo-colonial and racist, sharpening a regional dispute over the territory’s political future. French Polynesia: President Moetai Brotherson proposed UN-backed talks, a visiting mission and a pathway to a referendum, renewing pressure on France to engage in decolonisation dialogue.
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