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Bases shift to Damascus
Syria and Russia agreed on the future management of Russia’s two Mediterranean bases after 18 months of negotiations, with Syria’s Foreign Ministry announcing a Memorandum of Understanding on Sunday.
“The Syrian Foreign Ministry announced Sunday that the two nations had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) after 18 months of negotiations.”
Under the deal, Syria will take over civilian facilities at the Hmeimim air base and the commercial section of Tartous port, while the military sites will be converted into joint Russia-Syria training and qualification centres.
The transition is expected to be completed within three months, and Syria’s state administration will gradually integrate the sites into its civilian administration.
The agreement also follows the overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, after which Russia’s military presence became concentrated around the two coastal bases.
Syria’s Foreign Ministry described the changes as a "reorganising of the Russian presence" along the country’s coast, framing the shift as a new phase in Syrian-Russian relations.
Putin meets al-Sharaa
The agreement effectively means Russia will no longer have military outposts in Syria, with Syria taking over management of the Hmeimim airport and the commercial berth at Tartus port under the MoU.
Russia has yet to comment on the agreement, while Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani inspected the facilities on Sunday "to inspect the facilities and installations included in the historic memorandum of understanding," according to SANA.
Al Jazeera’s Obaida Hitto, reporting from Damascus, said the memorandum is being used to send "a clear message that the central government in Damascus is in control of all assets that belong to Syria and are part of Syrian territory," and added that Damascus is affirming "its national sovereignty is not up for negotiation."
The deal comes as Syrian leadership seeks to preserve ties with Moscow, with Al-Sharaa meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow twice since taking power.
During one of those meetings, Putin said, "much has been accomplished in terms of restoring our interstate relations," as the two sides discussed the bases.
What’s at stake next
The memorandum sets a deadline of no more than three months to complete the transition, after which the new arrangements will take effect and civilian facilities at both bases will be handed over to Damascus.
“"joint training and capacity-building centres, within new arrangements that preserve mutual interests"”
Syria’s General Authority for Ports and Customs said it would assume control of commercial facilities previously operated by Russia at Tartous, including Pier No. 4, with operations subject to approval by Syrian authorities.
The agreement also preserves a role for Russia through repurposed military facilities, which will be converted into "joint training and capacity-building centres" under arrangements aimed at preserving mutual interests.
The stakes for Syria’s sovereignty and control are underscored by Al Jazeera’s Obaida Hitto, who said Damascus is affirming "its national sovereignty is not up for negotiation," as it integrates the bases into civilian administration.
For Russia, the deal marks a shift from maintaining existing bases in their previous form to working with Damascus under a new arrangement that both sides say protects their interests.
