‘They need each other’: What’s behind the new Syria-Russia accord?

Syria and Russia have agreed to a new arrangement for two key Mediterranean bases. Under this deal, Syria will regain control of the Hmeimem air base and the commercial berth at Tartus port, integrating them into its civil administration. The military facilities at both locations will be repurposed as joint Russian-Syrian training and qualification centers. This agreement signifies a reorganization of Russia's presence along Syria's coast and marks a significant development in their bilateral relations. The deal comes after a year and a half of negotiations and follows the ouster of former President Bashar Assad. Russia did not immediately comment on the agreement.

Syria and Russia have reached an agreement on the future of Russia's two military bases in Syria: the Hmeimim airbase and Tartus naval base. Under this deal, these bases will be transformed into "joint training and capacity-building centres" to preserve mutual interests. The memorandum of understanding, finalized after 18 months of negotiations, mandates a transition period of no more than three months. During this time, civilian facilities at both bases will be transferred to Syrian control. This agreement comes after Russia provided crucial military support to ousted President Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian war and aims to secure the future of Moscow's only official military bases outside the former Soviet Union.