French defense company Arquus has secured a contract worth more than €50 million to renew the Chadian army’s logistics vehicle fleet, providing a concrete sign of improving military ties between N’Djamena and Paris.
The deal comes less than two years after Chad ended its defense and security cooperation agreement with France. The decision in November 2024 brought an end to a longstanding military partnership and was followed by the withdrawal of French troops from the country.
Relations have gradually improved this year. Since March, Chad and France have taken steps toward restoring limited military cooperation, while Paris has explored ways to resume security ties without returning immediately to its previous military presence.
The Arquus contract focuses on logistics vehicles rather than the deployment of French forces. It gives Chad access to French defense equipment as the country continues to rely heavily on its own military to address security threats across its territory.
The development comes as Chad continues to adjust its security partnerships. N’Djamena has sought closer ties with other regional and international partners since ending its previous arrangement with France, while maintaining its position that future cooperation should respect the country’s sovereignty.
For Paris, the agreement provides a practical channel for rebuilding defense relations with Chad. For N’Djamena, the contract adds French equipment to its military supply options without restoring the broader French military presence that existed before 2025.
The deal does not mark a return to the previous France-Chad defense relationship. It does, however, show that military cooperation between the two countries is gradually becoming active again.
