France and Chad have agreed to renew their defense partnership after relations deteriorated in 2024 and N’Djamena expelled French troops. The rapprochement follows talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby in Paris. Their renewed cooperation includes defense training, technology transfer, and capacity-building, with France gradually restoring a military training presence in the Central African country. The shift reflects mutual security concerns as instability spreads across parts of the Sahel and neighboring regions. For Chad, renewed French assistance could strengthen military capabilities while preserving options for cooperation with other international partners. France, meanwhile, regains an opening in a region where its influence has diminished. However, the partnership remains politically sensitive, and its durability will depend on whether both governments can balance security needs with sovereignty concerns and public expectations.