Syria reaches deal with Putin on future of two Russian bases that helped Assad in Mediterranean

Syria and Russia reached an agreement on Sunday over the future of Russia’s two strategic Mediterranean coastal bases in the West Asian nation. The bases in question were used to support ousted President Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian war. Syria’s foreign ministry confirmed the news on Sunday.

It is pertinent to note that Russia was a top political and military ally of Assad between 2011 and 2024, when Syria fought against Islamist-led armed opposition, of which current interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa was a prominent militant leader. Throughout the conflict, the Hmeimem air base near Latakia and the Tartus naval base were key Russian outposts in the eastern Mediterranean.

However, under the latest agreement, Syria will take control of the Hmeimem air base and the commercial berth at Tartus port. Meanwhile, the military facilities of both sites will be converted into “joint training and qualification centres,” the Syrian foreign ministry announced in a statement.

The new arrangements represent a “reorganising of the Russian presence” along Syria’s coast, the ministry said. “This move marks the most significant development since negotiations began approximately a year and a half ago, paving the way for a new phase in Syrian-Russian relations,” a statement read. Russia, on the other hand, is yet to comment on the matter.

Changing dynamic between Russia and Syria

It is pertinent to note that Moscow did not interfere during the rising insurgency in Syria, which eventually led to the overthrow of the Assad regime. However, it did provide the longtime Syrian leader and his family asylum. After Assad’s ouster, Russian troops remaining in Syria gradually left the country.

Ever since coming to power, Syria’s new leadership has aimed to maintain strong bilateral ties with Moscow. Since taking power, Syria’s interim President Al-Sharaa has visited Moscow and met Russian leader Vladimir Putin twice, with two Mediterranean bases being key points of discussion.

Apart from this, Syria’s new government has also bolstered its ties with the United States, Europe, and neighbouring Arab countries that had cut ties with Damascus during Assad’s crackdown on protests. Meanwhile, Washington has lifted most of its crippling sanctions on the country.

In July this year, French President Emmanuel Macron paid a visit to Syria during which he announced that the two countries would appoint respective ambassadors for the first time in 14 years. This reflected how countries around the world are attempting to establish diplomatic ties with Syria.