Hungary says its plan to send 200 soldiers to Chad is to promote international peace and fight terrorism, but experts say there is more to Budapest’s motives.
Chadian flags were flown in the streets of Budapest on 7 September as Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno arrived in Hungary for an official visit.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wants to send soldiers to Chad to stem migration. Viktor Orban, Hungary’s prime minister, is pressing ahead with his plan to station about 200 soldiers in Chad after meeting Chadian leader Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno in Budapest. Observers say Orban aims to mimic the growing influence of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the continent.
“Chad is a key country in the fight against illegal migration in Africa. Migration from Africa to Europe cannot be stopped without the countries of the Sahel region. That is why Hungary is building a partnership with Chad. We are working on this today and tomorrow with President Deby,” Orban stated.
Bordering Sudan, Libya, Niger, and the Central African Republic, Chad, which as a population of approximately 19 million, occupies a crucial position in the Sahel. This strategic location, coupled with its status as a key Western ally in a volatile part of the world, underscores its significance in the global geopolitical landscape.
Orban, like Russian President Vladimir Putin, has economic interests in the region. The Hungarian prime minister is also trying to score political points at a time when troops from EU member states like France have lost favor and are scaling down on their presence in the Sahel.
Over the past year, Hungary has rapidly developed ties with Chad, opening a humanitarian aid center and diplomatic mission in the capital and signing agreements on agriculture and education.
Hungary has a historically weak presence in Africa, but Orban has championed a foreign policy of opening up to the East and South by seeking closer ties with China, Russia, and African countries. Viktor Marsai, director of the Migration Research Institute, said Budapest has also sought a more significant military role in the Sahel to train its defense forces.
Hungary has traditionally been “part of military coalitions” when deployed abroad, but this time, it would need to “provide everything by itself.” This could pose significant challenges, particularly in terms of resources and coordination.
Since military leaders in West Africa seized power in recent years, nearly all of them have turned to Russia and its Wagner mercenary group for support. Experts and opposition politicians in Hungary have voiced fears that Budapest, which remains close to the Kremlin, might act on Russia’s behalf in the Sahel. When questioned about the mission, Hungary’s government denied that it “represents Russian or any other foreign interests in the Sahel.”
In late last year, the European Union (EU) resumed its military aid to Chad after a period of suspension due to a diplomatic row between the Chadian junta and Germany. The EU is planning to provide €12m to support the Chadian Armed Forces (FAT) in the south of the country, where they are facing security challenges from rebel groups and cross-border threats.
This May, the US was asked to withdraw it’s forces from Chad. The US had approximately 100 troops stationed in Chad as part of its strategy to combat extremism in West Africa. Western powers like the U.S. and European Union seem to be losing the battle in the Sahel.
US troops at the Adji Kossei military base train anti-terrorism special forces and an elite unit of the Chadian army to combat the Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram. Chad is a major recipient of US military aids and supports.