A business forum attended by 250 French companies took place in Chad on September 25, signaling a new stage in the improving relations between Chad and France. This development follows a period of tension earlier in 2024 when Chad ended a 60-year defense agreement with France, prompting the withdrawal of French troops. The forum was organized by Medef, France’s main business organization, with the goal of promoting investments in Chad, a country aiming to boost its GDP by 60% by 2030 through its ambitious development plan. The relationship between Chad and France, once focused heavily on security cooperation, is now shifting toward a more diverse partnership, according to a French source. The ambassador of Chad to Paris, Amina Priscille Longoh, noted that consultations with France are ongoing and that Chad feels its concerns are being addressed. During the forum, the Chadian Minister of Finance, Tahir Hamid Nguilin, met with his French counterpart, Roland Lescure, highlighting the growing economic dialogue between the two countries. The warming of relations began in January 2023 when Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Déby was hosted at the Élysée Palace in Paris. This was further reinforced at the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi in May, where both leaders expressed a desire to rebuild their partnership, with economic cooperation now taking center stage. Security cooperation has also started to resume, though in a more limited and discreet manner. In April, a group of French officers was sent to N'Djamena to evaluate the needs of the Chadian military in areas such as training and intelligence sharing. However, the French military presence will not match its previous scale, with no mention of fighter jets like the Mirage or the return of up to 1,500 French soldiers stationed in the country. French officials have described the resumption of military ties as cautious and gradual. While occasional flights by French fighter jets are possible, French agents already present in Chad are working with the National Agency for State Security, the country’s primary intelligence service, using an ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) plane to monitor the border and track groups like Boko Haram. The Chadians hope France will eventually provide them with a small fleet of reconnaissance aircraft to monitor all of Chad’s borders. Chad has also been seeking to diversify its security alliances, turning to the United Arab Emirates and Turkey as partners. However, the Chadian president finds himself in a complex regional situation due to the ongoing war in eastern Sudan, which has altered the dynamics of the region. Chad received around $700 million in loans and direct financing from the UAE in 2023-2024, but concerns remain about the long-term viability of this partnership. Some experts suggest that the UAE’s interest is closely tied to the situation in Sudan. Additionally, Chad has sought to enhance its aerial capabilities with Turkish drones, though some have reportedly been grounded due to unpaid bills, according to an informed source. A Chadian officer denied this, stating the drones have been operating "impeccably." For France, this situation presents an opportunity to reassert its influence in the region.