Damascus, Moscow sign deal shaping future of Russian military presence

Syria and Russia have reached a memorandum of understanding to reorganize Moscow’s presence on the Syrian coast, including transferring civilian facilities to Syrian control and converting Russian military bases into joint training centers, the Foreign Ministry announced.

The agreement follows about a year and a half of intensive negotiations led by Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and determines the future status of Russian facilities at Hmeimim and Tartous, the ministry’s Media and Communications Department told SANA.

Under the memorandum, Syria will take over the management of facilities designated for civilian use, including Hmeimim Airport and the fourth commercial berth at Tartous Port, allowing them to be gradually integrated into the country’s civilian administration.

The two sides also agreed to redefine the role of facilities currently used for military purposes, with Russian military bases to be transformed into joint training and qualification centers under new arrangements designed to protect the interests of both countries.

The Foreign Ministry described the agreement as the most significant development since negotiations began about 18 months ago, saying it paves the way for a new phase in Syrian-Russian relations.

By Jeyhun Aghazada