[1] The American embassy in N'Djamena, established at Chadian independence in 1960, was closed from the onset of the heavy fighting in the city in 1980 until the withdrawal of the Libyan forces at the end of 1981.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the United States and Chad had maintained fairly low-level economic ties, including investment guarantees and project aid, such as Peace Corps involvement.

[5] Drought in the early 1970s brought United States food and agriculture aid to remote areas, including grain supplies, animal health services, and technical assistance.

[5] In a declassified record of a 1973 conversation between U.S. President Richard Nixon, Secretary of State James R. Schlesinger, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, Nixon referenced the Prime Minister of Chad when explaining how he perceived the relationship between strength and importance: "But without adequate strength, our stance in the world wouldn't matter.

[5] Chad became a focus of American policy regarding North Africa when Secretary of State Alexander Haig sought new ways to undermine the Muammar Gaddafi regime, which was destabilizing much of the region from its base in neighboring Libya.

[citation needed] Habré seized control of the government of Chad in 1982, and received enthusiastic military and financial support from Washington.

[2] Chad has proved a valuable partner in the global war on terror, and in providing shelter to 200,000 refugees of Sudan's Darfur crisis along its eastern border.

[2] It also included projects in road repair and maintenance, maternal and child health, famine early warning systems, and agricultural marketing.

[9] Chad is a participant in the Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Initiative and cooperates with the United States military in fighting al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (and affiliated) insurgents.