Chad, France Renew Defence Cooperation With Focus on Military Training and Technology

Chad and France have taken a further step towards rebuilding their defence relationship, signing a declaration of intent aimed at strengthening military training, technical expertise and defence technology cooperation.

The declaration was signed in Paris on October 13, following a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno. The agreement outlines areas of potential collaboration intended to enhance the operational capabilities of Chad’s armed forces.

According to reports citing the Élysée, the framework covers military training, technical expertise, the defence industry and technology transfer. However, neither government has announced a new weapons contract, the reopening of French military bases in Chad or plans to deploy French troops.

## From Defence Dispute to Renewed Engagement

The latest development follows Chad’s decision in November 2024 to terminate its longstanding defence cooperation agreement with France, ending a military partnership that had made the Central African country a key component of Paris’s security presence in the Sahel.

France completed its military withdrawal from Chad on January 31, 2025, handing back installations in N’Djamena, Faya and Abéché. Before the withdrawal, approximately 1,000 French troops were stationed in the country.

The departure marked another setback for France’s military presence in the Sahel, following similar withdrawals from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

Despite the breakdown in the previous arrangement, both governments have since pursued efforts to restore bilateral relations and explore new areas of cooperation.

## Gradual Restoration of Bilateral Ties

The October declaration builds on diplomatic engagement that has taken place over several months.

A joint statement issued after talks on January 29 indicated that Macron and Déby supported revitalising relations on the basis of mutual respect and shared interests, particularly in economic cooperation.

The two leaders also discussed the conflict in neighbouring Sudan, calling for a humanitarian truce and a resolution that would preserve the country’s unity and territorial integrity.

By August, limited security cooperation, including training and intelligence support, had reportedly resumed, suggesting that efforts to rebuild the relationship were already underway before the latest declaration.

## What the New Declaration Means

The declaration provides a framework for expanding cooperation in military training, technical expertise, defence technology and industrial capabilities. Its emphasis suggests a focus on developing Chad’s own military capacity rather than immediately restoring France’s former combat presence.

However, the document does not constitute a publicly announced replacement for the previous defence agreement. It also does not confirm the return of French troops or the re-establishment of permanent military installations.

Neither side has disclosed financial commitments, specific equipment deliveries or an implementation timetable in the reports available.

The practical impact of the declaration will therefore depend on subsequent agreements and their implementation, including whether the framework leads to expanded training programmes, technology partnerships or defence procurement contracts.

For France, renewed cooperation offers an opportunity to maintain diplomatic and security ties with a strategically important Sahelian country following the contraction of its regional military footprint. For Chad, the arrangement could provide access to French expertise and technology while preserving greater control over the structure of its defence partnerships.

The coming months will help determine whether the declaration develops into a broader, sustained partnership or remains a limited framework for bilateral engagement.

• Tweet
• Share
• Share
• Share
• Share