Chad and France have taken a formal step towards rebuilding defense relations, signing a declaration of intent during Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby’s working visit to France.
The document was signed by French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin and Chadian Armed Forces Minister Gen Issakha Maloua Djamous in Paris on October 13, according to RFI.
The declaration aims to “structure and develop bilateral defense cooperation,” covering training, expertise, defense industry and technology, and is also intended to support the development of Chad’s armed forces, particularly in innovative fields.
French President Emmanuel Macron described the signing as “a new step” in strengthening the defense partnership within a renewed relationship. He said the two countries were building cooperation based on mutual respect and concrete benefits for their peoples, including in economic and cultural areas.
During a meeting at the Élysée Palace, the French and Chadian presidents discussed economic cooperation and regional and international issues, extending a rapprochement that began during a previous meeting in Paris in January 2026.
The move marks a notable shift after relations deteriorated in November 2024, when Chad terminated its defense agreements with France, ending a security arrangement that had lasted about six decades.
France began withdrawing its personnel in December 2024 and completed the pullout from its final base in N’Djamena on January 30, 2025. Despite the renewed language, the declaration is not a new military cooperation agreement and does not provide for the return of French troops to Chad.
