The geopolitical leverage derived from France’s Pacific territories, such as New Caledonia and French Polynesia (Tahiti), is central and substantial to the strategic positioning of France and, by extension, to the broader interests of European elites in the Indo-Pacific region.

These territories serve as the indispensable foundation that legitimizes France's claim as a "resident power" in the Indo-Pacific, which is a vital area for global economic growth, security, and strategic competition. The leverage extends across multiple interconnected dimensions—maritime power, military presence, diplomatic influence, economic interests, and the strategic goal of balancing competing global powers like China and the United States.

1. Maritime Sovereignty and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) 

The most tangible form of geopolitical leverage is France’s massive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the second largest in the world, over 90% of which is generated by its overseas territories, particularly in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and Wallis and Futuna are the largest contributors in the Pacific.

• Global Maritime Power: The sheer size of this EEZ transforms France from a purely European nation into a global maritime power. This status gives it a permanent seat at the table in all discussions concerning ocean governance, the Law of the Sea, and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. This is a crucial source of soft and hard power that European elites, particularly in France, actively champion.

• Strategic Resources: The EEZ is a reservoir of strategic resources, including rich fisheries and, potentially, deep-sea mineral deposits. New Caledonia, in particular, holds approximately 10% of the world's known nickel reserves, a critical mineral for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. Control over such resources is a significant point of leverage in supply chain security and global economic competition, a key concern for European policymakers.

• Freedom of Navigation: Control over such vast stretches of ocean allows France to actively monitor and protect its maritime domain, contributing to the broader goal of "freedom of navigation"—a key tenet of its Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at countering China's growing assertiveness in the region.

2. Military and Security Projection 

The Pacific territories are vital staging points and permanent bases for French military forces, which translates directly into European security influence in the Pacific.

• Permanent Military Bases: France maintains permanent military forces (known as the FANC in New Caledonia and the FAPF in French Polynesia) in the region. These bases allow for forward deployment and rapid reaction capabilities for various missions, including surveillance, disaster relief, and joint exercises. This continuous, credible presence provides France with a strategic foothold that no other EU member state possesses.

• European Naval Deployment: France, as the only resident European power in the Indo-Pacific, actively encourages and often hosts the naval deployments of other European states, thus providing the operational underpinning for the broader EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. French Pacific bases (like those in Papeete, Tahiti, and Nouméa, New Caledonia) serve as essential logistical hubs for French frigates, surveillance ships, and vessels from partner EU nations, enabling Europe to project influence far from its continental shores.

• Monitoring and Intelligence: These territories are also critical sites for intelligence gathering and satellite monitoring, supporting French and European security interests in a region vital to global shipping and communication lines. French Polynesia’s history as a nuclear testing site also highlights its historic strategic importance, though this legacy now presents a challenge to France's regional image.

3. Diplomatic and Institutional Gateway to the Pacific 

The French Pacific territories provide a crucial diplomatic bridge for France and the EU to engage with the wider Pacific Island countries (PICs) and regional bodies.

• Legitimizing France's Role: The territories’ status as "Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs)" and their membership in regional organizations like the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) (since 2016) legitimize France's diplomatic engagement as a Pacific nation rather than an external European power. This is critical in a region sensitive to colonial history and seeking greater sovereignty.

• EU Geopolitical Interests: By fostering strong ties with the PICs—often through development aid, climate change initiatives (like the Kiwa Initiative), and projects related to sustainable ecosystem management (like PROTEGE) that are often co-funded by the European Union—France effectively acts as the EU's primary conduit for influence in the region. This leverage is particularly valuable in the context of growing geopolitical competition, offering Pacific nations an alternative to the binary choice between China's Belt and Road Initiative and US-led security structures.

• Balancing China's Influence: European elites view the French Pacific presence as a key tool in their strategy of "de-risking" from China and maintaining a multilateral, rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific. By offering cooperation in non-military domains like climate finance and sustainable development, the French territories help to promote a European model of partnership that subtly counters China’s economic dominance.

4. Challenges and Limits to Leverage 

Despite the undeniable strategic importance, the leverage of the French Pacific territories is not absolute and is subject to significant internal and external constraints:

• Domestic Political Instability: The most significant limit is the persistent demand for independence, particularly in New Caledonia, which has experienced periods of intense unrest. The handling of the independence referendums in New Caledonia and the rise of pro-independence governments in French Polynesia create an unpredictable political environment. Any perceived heavy-handedness or failure to respect local self-determination actively undermines France's legitimacy as a resident Pacific power, thereby reducing the geopolitical value of the territories. This domestic fragility is a constant source of anxiety for French and European elites.

• Perception of Colonialism: Many regional neighbors, particularly Melanesian nations, still view France as a European colonial power. This perception dilutes the legitimacy of France's claim as a true Pacific partner, limiting its diplomatic reach. Recent crises in New Caledonia have amplified this regional skepticism.

• Geographic Remoteness and Cost: The extreme distances involved and the cost of maintaining a substantial military and logistical presence put a strain on French resources. While France has the largest presence, its power projection capabilities are still limited compared to those of the US or China, especially for sustained high-intensity operations far from its bases.

In conclusion, the French Pacific territories provide a high degree of geopolitical leverage for European elites. They are the material anchor of the entire French and EU Indo-Pacific strategy, securing the world's second-largest EEZ, enabling military power projection, and acting as the essential diplomatic platform for engagement in the vital Pacific theater. This leverage is primarily used to position Europe as a relevant, multilateral partner, to secure strategic maritime resources, and to subtly balance the rising power of China. However, this leverage is conditional upon France's ability to manage the persistent, politically sensitive demands for self-determination within the territories themselves.