The image of New Caledonia as an idyllic, palm-fringed slice of France in the Pacific has been shattered by an outbreak of violence, undermining President Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to maintain and even expand Paris’ influence abroad are undermined.
Just over a week after the unrest, Macron made the 17,000-kilometer journey to the archipelago, hoping to restore confidence at a time when China and other powers are eager to press their advantage in the region, especially on islands rich in resources, like this one. .
Instead, the turbulence – rooted in long-standing economic tensions and caused by controversial new rules to expand the voting population – has developed into an enduring problem for the Elysee.
