Chad-France Military Relations Gain Momentum with Planned Joint Air Exercises
Chad and France are taking fresh steps towards restoring military cooperation, nearly two years after N’Djamena ended a longstanding defence agreement that led to the withdrawal of French troops from the Central African country.
The French military has announced plans to deploy two fighter jets and a transport aircraft to Chad in November for training activities with Chadian forces. The exercise will form part of a wider military programme involving the armed forces of Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon and France, according to Xavier Rival, spokesperson for the French Chief of Defence Staff.
The planned engagement signals a gradual shift in relations following Chad’s decision in November 2024 to terminate its military cooperation agreement with France under President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno. French troops subsequently completed their withdrawal from the country in early 2025, bringing an end to a significant phase of France’s military presence in the region.
The renewed military contact follows recent diplomatic efforts by both governments to rebuild their relationship and establish a revised defence partnership. While the planned exercises do not amount to a full restoration of the former military arrangement, they indicate growing willingness on both sides to resume cooperation on security matters.
