PARIS, November 29. /TASS/. Chad announced the severance of its defense agreement with France, AFP reported citing the statement by the Foreign Minister of Chad.

"The government of the Republic of Chad informs the public about the decision to sever the agreement on cooperation in defense with the French Republic," Abderaman Koulamallah, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, African Integration and the Affairs of Chadians abroad, said in his statement.

On April 18, the Chadian authorities sent a letter to the United States, in which they notified Washington about their intent to sever the military agreement. The letter said that all American troops must withdraw from the military base in N’Djamena. On April 25, the Pentagon announced a partial withdrawal of the American contingent, calling it a temporary measure.

In May, the Chadian Defense Minister underscored that, unlike the UK, the US and France, Russia has always been a reliable partner of African states. During his visit to Chad in June, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced the deepening of the security cooperation with this country and pointed out that N’Djamena is interested in expanding the defense cooperation due to terrorist threats.

According to the Russian Ambassador in Chad Vladimir Sokolenko, the share of the Soviet and Russian vehicles in the local army stands at about 80%. Russia and Chad signed an agreement on the military-technical cooperation in 2000, and on military cooperation in 2017.

Between 2008 and 2010, Russia participated in the joint UN-EU peacekeeping operation in Chad. A Russian helicopter group of 100 servicemen and 4 helicopters was present in the country.