The (Ex) Washington Realist

In years past, a government in Chad knew that, if push came to shove, Paris would be there--with military aid as necessary--to shore up the state's foundations.

But then, in order to make the EUROFOR deployed on Chad's border with Sudan--and meant to help ease the humanitarian crisis created by the fighting in Darfur--credible in the eyes of other European states--who did not want to deploy forces but then end up serving France's specific interests in maintaining "its guys" in N'Djamena--Paris had to pledge neutrality. EUROFOR is the largest EU military force deployed anywhere and so, if the EU is serious about being credible as a security provider, EUROFOR needs to work. The question is whether Paris is prepared to sacrifice the Déby government in Chad.