These volcanic islands are uninhabited, but two nations are fighting over them (opens original article in a new tab)

France and Vanuatu are in a sovereignty dispute over Matthew and Hunter Islands, which hold cultural significance for Vanuatu and strategic economic value for France.

• Matthew and Hunter Islands are at the center of a sovereignty dispute between France and Vanuatu.
• France claims the islands as part of New Caledonia, while Vanuatu seeks sovereignty due to cultural and historical ties.
• The islands grant an exclusive economic zone of 350,000 square kilometers, making them strategically and economically significant.