Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa held a telephone conversation on Wednesday to discuss matters of mutual concern, including the status of Russia’s military presence in Syria.
During the call, Putin conveyed Moscow’s commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity and reiterated Russia’s position opposing Israeli military actions and incursions into Syrian airspace. The Kremlin indicated that the discussion also addressed expanding political engagement and commercial cooperation between the two nations. Both sides emphasized the importance of continuing dialogue through various channels to strengthen their bilateral relationship.
A central focus of the talks involved the future of Russia’s strategic military installations in Syria, specifically the Khmeimim airbase and the Tartous naval facility on the Mediterranean. Earlier in the month, the two countries finalized an agreement following 18 months of negotiations that would convert both bases into joint training and capacity-building centers, with Syria assuming control of civilian operations at each location. The Kremlin noted that both governments underscored the significance of the Memorandum of Understanding signed on August 9 regarding the reorganization of these facilities.
Russia has maintained a significant military presence in Syria since supporting former President Bashar al-Assad during the country’s civil conflict. Following al-Sharaa’s recent leadership transition, Putin has pursued strengthening relations with the new Syrian government while working to preserve Russia’s operational capabilities at the bases, which serve as important strategic assets for maintaining Russian influence throughout the Middle East and North Africa regions.
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