Syria agrees deal with Russia over future use of two key Mediterranean bases

Syria and Russia have finalized an agreement concerning the future of two strategic Mediterranean coastal bases, Hmeimem air base and Tartus naval base, which will ultimately cease to function as Moscow's military outposts, Syria's Foreign Ministry announced Sunday.

The Hmeimem air base near Latakia and the Tartus naval base served as crucial Russian strongholds in the eastern Mediterranean throughout the conflict from 2011 to 2024. During this period, Russia was the primary political and military ally of ousted President Bashar Assad, who faced an Islamist-led armed opposition led by current interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

Under the new accord, Syria will assume control of the Hmeimem air base and the commercial section of the Tartus port. The military installations at both locations are slated to be repurposed into "joint training and qualification centers." The Foreign Ministry described these changes as a "reorganizing of the Russian presence" along Syria’s coast, heralding "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."

Russia has not yet issued a public comment on the agreement. Following Assad's overthrow, Russian troops stationed in Syria gradually withdrew, though Moscow had provided asylum to the former Syrian leader and his family. Syria's new leadership has prioritized maintaining robust bilateral ties with Moscow, with al-Sharaa visiting President Vladimir Putin twice in Moscow since assuming power, with the two bases being central discussion points. Concurrently, Syria has also been strengthening its relationships with the United States, Europe, and neighboring Arab nations that had previously severed ties with Damascus during Assad's suppression of protests.

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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.