MADRID 29 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Chadian Foreign Ministry announced this Friday that it has terminated the security and defense cooperation agreement that it had had with the French authorities since September 2019, defending a change in its “national priorities”, in a blow to France. which loses its military presence in the Sahel, and leaves the West without a key ally in the region to combat terrorism.
“This decision, made after in-depth analysis, marks a historic turning point. Indeed, after 66 years since the proclamation of the Republic of Chad, it is time for Chad to assert its full sovereignty and redefine its strategic partnerships based on national priorities,” the Foreign Minister and spokesperson for the Chadian Government, Abderaman Koulamallah, explained in a statement.
Despite the rupture, the minister has assured that this decision “does not in any way question the historical relations and ties of friendship between the two nations” and has underlined his willingness to maintain “a constructive dialogue to explore new forms of association” with France. , “for the benefit of both peoples.”
Likewise, he clarified that he will respect the terms of termination included in the agreement with the French authorities, whom he thanked, to “guarantee a smooth transition.”
The decision of the Government of Chad, a key player for the West in its anti-terrorist fight with the largest French military base on the continent, seems to follow the trend of the Sahel, where some countries are critical of the Western presence in their territories and inclined, on the other hand, to , to approaches to Russia, including the deployment of mercenaries from the Wagner Group, now known as Africa Corps.