Syria and Russia reach agreement on future of Russian military bases

Syria and Russia have agreed on the future management of Russian bases on the country's Mediterranean coast.

Russia used the bases to provide military support to former Syrian leader Bashar Assad during Syria's 13-year civil war that ended in 2024.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry announced Sunday that the two nations had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) after 18 months of negotiations.

The deal effectively means Russia will no longer have military outposts in the Arab country.

What will happen to Russia's military bases in Syria?

Syria will take over management of the Hmeimim airport and the commercial berth at Tartus port, Syria's Foreign Ministry said.

State media cited the ministry as saying that the bases would be converted into "joint training and capacity-building centres, within new arrangements that preserve mutual interests."

The facilities will be gradually integrated into the country's civilian administration. The transition is expected to be completed within three months, the ministry said.

Russia has yet to comment on the agreement.

Russia trying to build relations with post-Assad Syria

During the civil war in Syria between 2011 and 2024, while Assad was president, Russia was Syria's main ally and military backer.

Assad was overthrown in December 2024, and now lives in exile in Moscow. Current Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa led an alliance of Islamist rebel groups that fought against government forces during the war.

Assad's ouster in 2024 dealt a major blow to Moscow's influence in the region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been trying to build ties with Syria's new leadership to protect the future of the only two official Russian military bases located outside the former Soviet Union.

Al-Sharaa has met with Putin in Moscow twice since coming to power in January 2025.

During his last trip, Putin said, "much has been accomplished in terms of restoring our interstate relations."

The Syrian government has been demanding that Moscow extradite Assad.