Syria and Russia Agree to Maintain Russian Military Presence with New Joint Training Centers

Syria announced on Sunday that after a year and a half of intensive negotiations, it has reached an agreement with Russia to continue Russian military operations at its coastal bases in Tartus and Khmeimim. According to the Syrian Foreign Ministry, these bases will be transformed into "joint training centers" within three months, signaling a long-term Russian military presence in the country. Moscow has yet to comment on the new agreement, which Damascus described as opening a "new chapter" in relations with the new regime of Ahmad al-Sharaa.

Russia has been a long-standing ally of the Syrian regime and actively supported Bashar al-Assad during the civil war since 2011, including airstrikes against opposition forces. Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda affiliate who led the jihadist group Jabhat al-Nusra (later Hayat Tahrir al-Sham), overthrew Assad in December 2024, forcing him to flee to Russia. This regime change raised questions about the future of Russia's two major military bases on the Syrian coast.

The new Syrian government has not ruled out allowing Russia to continue operating these bases but has demanded compensation for war damages and the extradition of Assad, which has not occurred. The agreement, described as a memorandum of understanding rather than a detailed treaty, includes Syria taking control over civilian facilities in the area, such as the civilian port in Tartus and the Latakia international airport, previously managed by Russia. The Syrian Civil Aviation Authority announced it has taken over the Latakia airport and begun preparations for its rehabilitation.

Regarding military facilities, both sides agreed to redefine their roles, converting them from traditional military bases into joint training centers under new arrangements protecting mutual interests. The memorandum sets a three-month deadline to complete this transition, marking a significant development since negotiations began and signaling a new phase in Syria-Russia relations.