Syria Agrees to Reorganized Russian Military Presence

Key Points:

• Syria and Russia have reached an agreement to reorganize Moscow’s military presence in Syria after more than 18 months of negotiations, marking a significant development in their relations since rebels overthrew Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.
• The agreement includes a memorandum of understanding to restructure Russia’s presence at the Hmeimim Air Base, the Tartus naval port, and the Syrian coast, with civilian facilities gradually transferred to Syrian government control and military bases converted into joint training centers.
• Russia’s longstanding military foothold in Syria, including two air bases and a naval port, was challenged after Assad’s ouster, with Syria canceling Russia’s contract to manage Tartus and signing a deal with Dubai Ports World for investment in the port.
• Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has emphasized the need to address past mistakes in relations with Russia and has called for compensation for war damages, while also demanding Russia hand over Assad, who took asylum in Russia after fleeing Syria in December 2024.
• The transition under the new agreement is set to be completed within three months, aiming to safeguard the interests of both countries, though details remain to be finalized and Russian media have yet to report on the deal.