Djibouti and France have initiated a review of their defense agreement, which serves as the foundation of their military cooperation. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu met with Djiboutian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and Minister of Defense Hassan Omar Mohamed Bourhan in Paris to commence the review process. The decision to review the Defense Cooperation Treaty (TCMD) between the two countries follows a joint declaration made by the French President and his Djiboutian counterpart, Mr. Ismaël Omar Guelleh, in 2021.
“The meeting launched the review of the Defense Cooperation Treaty (TCMD) between Djibouti and France, the framework for which was set out in the joint declaration by the President of the Republic and his Djiboutian counterpart, Mr. Ismaël Omar Guelleh, in 2021”, a released statement read.
Djibouti, located in a volatile region, provides France with a crucial strategic base. France, along with other nations like the United States and China, aims to maintain its largest overseas military base in Djibouti. With a defense agreement dating back to 1977 and 2011, Paris has strong motivations to uphold its presence in this small country with a population of one million. Djibouti’s proximity to the strategically significant Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a vital shipping route connecting Asia and the West, further enhances the importance of France’s military position in the region.
The joint statement about the defense agreement from the French ministries emphasized the commitment of the four ministers to the strategic partnership between France and Djibouti. They expressed their shared desire to deepen bilateral relations and expand cooperation across various domains.