Syria and Russia have reached a new agreement aimed at reshaping Moscow’s military presence in Syria, reflecting a pragmatic shift in relations following the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad.
The agreement, announced by Syria’s post-Assad government, covers Russia’s military facilities at the Hmeimim airbase and the Tartus naval base. The deal follows about 18 months of negotiations between Damascus and Moscow over the future of Russia’s military presence in the country.
Under the new arrangement, Syria will assume control of civilian facilities at Hmeimim and the commercial section of Tartus port. The military facilities will reportedly be converted into joint Russian-Syrian training and qualification centres, with the transition expected to be completed within three months.
Russia has not publicly commented on the agreement.
Moscow was one of Assad’s most important allies during Syria’s nearly 14-year civil war. In 2015, Russia intervened militarily in support of Assad’s government, using Hmeimim as a major air operations hub and Tartus as its main naval foothold in the Mediterranean.
Assad was eventually overthrown in December 2024 after Ahmed al-Sharaa led an offensive that captured Damascus. Assad fled to Russia, where he and his family were granted asylum.
Despite their previous opposition, the new Syrian authorities have chosen to maintain relations with Moscow rather than completely remove Russian influence from the country.
Analysts say the decision reflects mutual interests. Syria needs economic, energy, agricultural and technical assistance, while Russia wants to preserve its strategic foothold in the Mediterranean and maintain its wider influence in the Middle East and Africa.
According to analysts, Damascus also wants to avoid becoming dependent on a single foreign power. Maintaining relations with Russia could give Syria additional leverage in its dealings with the United States, Turkey and other regional and global powers.
The agreement therefore represents a significant change rather than a complete break in Syrian-Russian relations. Syria appears determined to exercise greater control over its territory while keeping Russia engaged under new terms.
Analysts describe the arrangement as a pragmatic partnership in which both countries continue to need each other, but with Syria now negotiating from a stronger position as a sovereign state.
The long-term impact of the agreement remains uncertain. It could restrict Russia’s military role in Syria, or it could provide a framework for Moscow to maintain and potentially strengthen its presence under a new Syrian government.
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