In a move reflecting the depth of diplomatic relations and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's commitment to strengthening its strategic partnerships in Africa, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received His Excellency President Mohamed Idriss Déby Itno, President of the Transitional Government of Chad. During the meeting, they conducted a comprehensive review of bilateral relations between the two countries, explored ways to develop them across various fields, and discussed a number of issues of mutual interest.
This meeting comes within the context of longstanding relations between Riyadh and N'Djamena, characterized by cooperation and mutual respect. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a key development and humanitarian partner for Chad, having provided substantial support through official channels such as the Saudi Fund for Development and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre in the areas of infrastructure, health, and education. Both countries also share membership in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, providing a common framework for coordinating positions on issues of concern to the Muslim world.
These talks are of particular importance given the pivotal role both countries play in their regional environment. On the one hand, the Kingdom, under the leadership of the Crown Prince, seeks to achieve the goals of Vision 2030, which focuses on economic diversification and building effective international partnerships. Africa, and specifically the Sahel region, is considered an area of increasing strategic importance, both in terms of security and the economy. Strengthening stability in Chad and neighboring countries directly serves broader regional security objectives, especially in light of the challenges related to combating terrorism and organized crime.
On the other hand, Chad faces significant political, security, and economic challenges, particularly as it continues its political transition. Therefore, securing political and economic support from a major regional power like Saudi Arabia would provide a significant boost to the Chadian government's efforts to achieve internal stability and sustainable development. Cooperation with the Kingdom is also seen as an opportunity to attract Saudi investments that could contribute to the development of vital sectors in Chad, such as energy, agriculture, and mining.
This rapprochement is expected to positively impact coordination on regional issues, particularly regarding the situations in Sudan and Libya, with which Chad shares long borders and is directly affected by the conflicts there. The meeting is likely to result in new understandings to strengthen security and intelligence cooperation to counter shared threats and unify efforts to support peace and development initiatives in the Sahel and Sahara region, serving the interests of both countries and the peoples of the entire region.
