Lavrov: Moscow, Damascus to regularly review security and economic agreements

Moscow and Damascus have reached an agreement to conduct a comprehensive review of all existing bilateral agreements, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on July 31 during a joint press conference in Moscow with his Syrian counterpart, Asaad al-Shaibani.

“We have agreed to take stock of all existing agreements,” Lavrov stated, emphasising that this review process should become a regular practice.

Lavrov noted that Syria had expressed particular interest in strengthening cooperation in areas such as security and personnel training, both for civilian and military sectors. “These issues are of interest to our Syrian colleagues, and we will work on this,” he added.

Regarding the wide range of trade and economic agreements already in place, Lavrov reported that the Syrian side would expedite the appointment of its co-chair to the Russian-Syrian Intergovernmental Trade and Economic Commission. Once the Syrian delegation is fully formed, the commission will be tasked with reviewing all current agreements and contracts to identify mutually acceptable mechanisms for advancing Russian participation in the reconstruction and development of the Syrian economy.

This diplomatic coordination comes amid renewed instability in Syria. On July 13, violent clashes broke out in the southern province of As-Suwayda between Arab tribal militias and local Druze self-defence groups. In response, Syria’s Interior and Defence Ministries dispatched special forces to the provincial capital and launched a security sweep to restore order.

At the same time, Israel conducted a series of airstrikes targeting Syrian military convoys, claiming the operations were aimed at protecting the Druze population. Additional strikes were reported in the capital, Damascus.

On July 19, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa declared a nationwide ceasefire in As-Suwayda as part of an internationally mediated peace initiative. Russia, a key ally of Damascus, strongly condemned Israel’s actions, describing them as blatant violations of Syrian sovereignty and international law.

During separate phone calls with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated the importance of upholding Syria’s territorial integrity and safeguarding the rights of all ethnic and religious communities to ensure internal stability.

The latest developments occur against the backdrop of profound political shifts in Syria. In late 2024, opposition forces launched a large-scale offensive, culminating in the entry of rebel units into Damascus on December 8. The event forced President Bashar al-Assad to resign and flee the country. Vice President Ahmed al-Sharaa subsequently assumed control and, on January 29, 2025, formally declared himself acting president for a transitional period projected to last four to five years.

By Tamilla Hasanova