Syria: Agreement reached with Moscow on the future of Russian bases in the country

Syria's Foreign Ministry announced an agreement with Russia on the future of Russian bases in Syria. Civilian infrastructure will be transferred to the Syrian government's control, while military facilities will become joint training centers. A three-month timeline has been set. The deal marks a shift in relations between the two countries, following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024 and the withdrawal of Russian presence.

Syria's Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday night that an agreement has been reached with Russia regarding the future of Russian bases in Syria: at the Khmeimim airfield and the port of Tartus. According to the statement, civilian infrastructure, such as the runways at Khmeimim and the commercial pier in Tartus, will gradually be transferred to the Syrian government's control. Military facilities will become joint training and instruction centers. The agreement sets a three-month timeline for completing the process. The statement said the agreement "opens a door to a different phase in relations." Background: The connection between Russia and Syria dates back to the Cold War, with Soviet aid during the Yom Kippur War. After the Soviet Union's collapse, Russia lost its ability to invest in the Middle East, but Putin worked to restore Russian presence in the Mediterranean region. Since 2015, Russian forces have operated in Syria, helping Assad push back rebels. Following the invasion of Ukraine, the Assad regime became a burden for the Kremlin, and in December 2024, with the regime's fall, Putin granted Assad asylum. Syrian rebels placed checkpoints outside the bases but refrained from storming them. Russian presence was quickly folded, and Russia shifted its focus to other areas like Libya and Sudan.