But ahead of presidential elections in May, Chadian authorities ordered the withdrawal of US troops from the country, signaling a distancing from the country’s traditional Western allies.
France currently has about 1,000 troops in the central African country, providing intelligence and logistical support to the Chadian military from its bases, including the capital N’Djamena.
France, Chad’s former colonial ruler, signed a revised military and security agreement in 2019.
Chad is just the latest Central and West African country to tear up its security accords with Paris.
Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have in recent years scrapped agreements with France and other Western countries, turning instead to Russia for support.
But Koulamalla told AFP that Chad’s decision did not mean “a break with France like Niger or anywhere else”.
France was an “indispensable partner” but Chad must “rethink its strategic partnership according to national priorities,” Coulamalla told a briefing on Thursday.
Authorities insisted the move would not affect Chad’s relations with France in other areas.
