Syria and Russia have reached an agreement to change the status of two strategically important military facilities on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, with Moscow set to end their use as military outposts.
The agreement covers the Hmeimem air base near Latakia and the Tartus naval base, which served as Russia’s major military footholds in the eastern Mediterranean during the rule of former Syrian President Bashar Assad.
According to Syria’s Foreign Ministry, Damascus will assume control of the Hmeimem air base and the commercial berth at Tartus port under its civil administration.
However, the military facilities at the two locations will be converted into “joint training and qualification centers,” the ministry said.
The ministry described the arrangement as a “reorganizing of the Russian presence” along Syria’s coastline.
“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 had yet to publicly comment on the agreement as of Sunday.
Moscow remained a key ally of Assad throughout the Syrian conflict, providing military and political support to his government.
Following the overthrow of Assad in an Islamist-led insurgency, Russia granted asylum to the former president and his family, while Russian forces that remained in Syria gradually withdrew.
Since assuming power, Syria’s new leadership has sought to preserve its relationship with Moscow.
Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has met Russian President Vladimir Putin twice in Moscow, with the future of the two Mediterranean facilities reportedly featuring prominently in their discussions.
At the same time, Damascus has strengthened its relations with Western nations and Arab neighbours that had distanced themselves from Assad’s government over its crackdown on protests.
The United States has also lifted most of its sanctions on Syria, while French President Emmanuel Macron visited Damascus in July and announced plans for France and Syria to appoint ambassadors for the first time in 14 years.
