Turkey is set to assume control of a strategic military base in Abéché, eastern Chad, following France’s withdrawal from the country.
According to Turkish news outlet TRT Haber, Chadian authorities officially granted Turkey control of the Abéché base under an agreement finalized in mid-January. The deal came after negotiations between Turkey’s ambassador in N’Djamena and Chadian officials.
French forces, which had maintained a military presence in Chad since its independence in 1960, completed their withdrawal in late January after Chad unilaterally ended its military cooperation agreement with its former colonial power.
The French withdrawal from Chad follows the severing of military ties with Paris by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, all of which have turned to Russia for security cooperation.
In addition to the Abéché base, reports stated that Turkey has already deployed drones and military advisors near Faya-Largeau, a northern base near Chad’s border with Libya. Turkish military advisors and personnel from defense companies have also arrived in Chad to oversee military operations and training programs for Chadian forces.
Chad’s decision to welcome Turkish military support aligns with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s broader strategy of deepening Ankara’s influence in Africa. In recent years, Turkey has strengthened defense ties with several African nations, promoting military training programs, drone sales, and infrastructure projects.
Turkey previously supplied HÜRKUŞ light attack aircraft, Bayraktar TB2 drones, and Aksungur unmanned aerial vehicles to bolster Chad’s security forces.
