Newsletters
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Syrian counterpart Ahmad al-Sharaa on Wednesday highlighted the importance of a memorandum of understanding on reorganizing Moscow’s military presence at the Hmeimim and Tartus bases during a phone call.
In a statement, the Kremlin said the two presidents discussed the current state and prospects for further developing Moscow-Damascus ties.
The statement said they expressed a commitment to deepening political dialogue and cooperation in trade, economic, humanitarian and other areas.
During an exchange of views on the situation in Syria, Putin reaffirmed his “principled position in support of the unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty” of the country, as well as the “creation of conditions for long-term normalization and post-conflict reconstruction,” the Kremlin said.
“Both sides noted the importance of the memorandum of understanding signed on Aug. 9 on the reorganization of the Hmeimim Air Base and the Tartus Logistics Facility,” it said.
Putin and al-Sharaa agreed to continue contacts at various levels.
The phone call marked the first known contact between the two presidents since al-Sharaa visited Moscow in January.
Moscow and Damascus signed the memorandum of understanding on Aug. 9 to reorganize Russia’s presence at the Hmeimim and Tartus bases in western Syria following about 18 months of negotiations, according to the Syrian Foreign Ministry.
Syria said at the time that it had reached a deal with Russia on the fate of the two bases, which Moscow once used to provide military support to ousted leader Bashar Assad during the Syrian civil war.
Russia was a key Assad ally during Syria’s 13-year conflict, helping keep the former leader in power.
Assad’s ouster in 2024 dealt a major blow to Moscow’s influence in the region.
Putin has since worked to build relations with the new authorities in Damascus to secure the future of Russia’s only two official military bases outside the former Soviet Union.
Syria’s official SANA news agency quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying that the Hmeimim air base and Tartus naval base would be turned into “joint training and capacity-building centers, within new arrangements that preserve mutual interests.”
The memorandum “set a time limit of no more than three months to complete the process,” SANA said.
In the meantime, civilian facilities at both bases will be handed over to Damascus.
Russia has not yet officially commented on the agreement.
Both Hmeimim and Tartus remained operational while talks were ongoing.
1 min read
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani visited the sites Sunday “to inspect the facilities and installations included in the historic memorandum of understanding,” according to SANA.
Omar al-Hasri, head of Syria’s Civil Aviation Authority, said the body was taking control of Latakia’s international airport, a civilian facility adjacent to Hmeimim whose operations were closely linked to Russia’s presence.
“The Authority’s specialized teams have begun the technical and operational assessment of the airport, its facilities and systems, in preparation for developing a plan to rehabilitate it,” Hasri said.
He called the move “an important step toward restoring and operating Syrian airports and reintegrating them into the national civil aviation system.”
Syria has expressed willingness to cooperate with Moscow, and Sharaa has been received by Putin in Moscow twice since taking power.
During Sharaa’s last visit in January, Putin said “much has been accomplished in terms of restoring our interstate relations,” commending Sharaa for his “efforts to restore Syria’s territorial integrity.”
Sharaa praised Russia’s “historic role” in Syria and the region.
Damascus, however, has repeatedly demanded that Moscow extradite Assad, who has been sheltering in Russia with his wife since his ouster.
Earlier this year, the Kremlin withdrew its forces from Qamishli airport in northeastern Syria.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
