How did World War II affect Vanuatu?

During World War II, the islands of Vanuatu—then known as the New Hebrides—served as a major base for Allied forces. The capital, Port-Vila, was specifically utilized as a strategic military site.21

The presence of these troops had a profound social and political impact on the local population. In particular, the arrival of free-spending African American soldiers influenced the development of the Jon (or John) Frum cargo cult on the island of Tanna. This movement subsequently evolved into a significant anti-European political force. Following the war, local political initiatives began to emerge, driven largely by concerns regarding land ownership, as more than one-third of the territory remained under foreign ownership at that time.23