What Syria-Russia Deal Means for the Future of Moscow’s Military Presence in Syria

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Syria and Russia have reached an agreement on the future of Moscow’s military presence in Syria, including a decision to transform Russian military bases into joint training centers and hand over the management of Hmeimim Air Base and Tartus Port facilities to the Syrian side.

According to a report published Sunday, by Syria’s official SANA news agency, citing the Syrian Foreign Ministry’s Department of Media and Communications, the two countries reached a memorandum of understanding to “restructure” the role of Russian military bases and facilities.

Under the agreement, the bases will be transformed from military facilities into “joint training and instruction centers” within the framework of a new agreement intended to protect the shared interests of both sides.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry said the two sides have set a provisional period of up to three months to complete the process of changing the functions of the bases, allowing the new agreement to formally enter into force.

According to the memorandum, the restructuring of Russia’s presence along Syria’s coast will begin with Syria assuming management of all civilian facilities.

Among the facilities to be transferred are Hmeimim Air Base and the fourth commercial berth at the Port of Tartus. The process is expected to take place gradually, integrating the facilities into Syria’s state civilian administrative system.

The agreement was reached following a year and a half of negotiations and intensive diplomatic discussions between Syria’s Foreign Ministry and Moscow.

The talks ultimately resolved the future of Russia’s two military bases at Hmeimim and Tartus and outlined the next phase of relations between Russia and Syria.

The memorandum therefore establishes a new framework for the Russian presence in Syria while setting out the process for transferring civilian facilities to Syrian administration.