France and New Caledonia: reinventing ‘common destiny’ | The Strategist

"Strategically, France supports the regional integration of its territory. Sharing its diplomatic authority with the New Caledonian government enables the French state to show that a non-independent New Caledonia still benefits from a degree of autonomy in its foreign relations. That concession helps consolidate France’s sovereignty over its territory while Paris continues to oversee New Caledonia’s main international relationships."