The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that its collaboration with Syria’s new administration is progressing rapidly. This development may allow Russia to maintain some military bases that it was concerned about losing if Bashar al-Assad’s regime fell in December 2024.
Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, mentioned that discussions with Syrian partners include matters related to Russia’s military presence in the country and possible changes to the roles of Russian military facilities.
Zakharova expressed particular optimism about the Tartus naval base, which has been significantly improved since 1971 and again in 2015, a time when Russia was heavily backing the Assad government during the Syrian civil war.
In 2017, Moscow secured a 49-year agreement with the Assad regime for the Tartus base to remain under Russian control at no cost. This base is strategically crucial for Russia since comparable ports in the Mediterranean are scarce. In fact, Russia has only one other base outside the former Soviet territory, also located in Syria, which is Hmeimim Air Base in northwestern Latakia province.
Although Assad seemed to have secured victory in Syria’s protracted civil war with extensive Russian and Iranian support, the situation changed dramatically in late 2024. An alliance of rebels and jihadist forces captured Damascus swiftly. Consequently, President Assad fled to Russia, creating uncertainty about the future of Russian military bases in Syria.
The new Syrian government, led by former al-Qaeda associate Ahmed al-Sharaa, initially seemed to oppose Russia. Geopolitical analysts suggested that Russia is preparing contingency plans to keep its military influence in the Middle East, potentially by collaborating more closely with warlord Khalifa Haftar and the Libyan National Army (LNA), which it supports.
While Russia has developed infrastructure in Libya, it also appears to be reestablishing ties with the al-Sharaa regime in Syria. A recent satellite image showed a Russian cargo ship departing St. Petersburg in March and arriving in Tartus in June, carrying equipment and supplies for a Syrian base under Russian naval escort.
Analysts noted that even after pulling most of its troops out of Syria post-Assad, the remaining Russian personnel at Tartus and Hmeimim had not rushed to leave, indicating the new Syrian government might not be ready to evict them.
Zakharova stated on Wednesday that Tartus could serve as a logistics hub for distributing Russian imports to Syria, which seemed to be part of the “reorganization” she mentioned.
On the same day, Syrian officials revealed plans to “convert the remaining Russian bases into training grounds for the new Syrian army.” This move suggests an adjustment rather than a complete withdrawal of Russian presence.
Hmeimim Air Base plays a vital role in Russia’s military logistics to Africa, facilitating the transfer of equipment and state-affiliated militias to African nations. Such countries often pay generously for Russian mercenaries to suppress uprisings. There were previously fears that losing control of Hmeimim in 2025 could severely hinder Russia’s operations in Libya, the Central African Republic, Mali, and Niger.
However, it seems that anxieties have eased as relations between Moscow and the new Damascus government stabilize. In October 2025, President Vladimir Putin met with Sharer and assured him of Russia’s commitment to the agreements regarding base access. Additionally, it appears that Putin may have sweetened the deal by offering to supply food and fuel at reduced prices from the Tartus base, should Zakharova’s comments from Tuesday hold true.
