These bases were previously used to provide military support to the ousted leader Bashar al Assad during the Syrian civil war.
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The official Syrian news agency SANA, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the Hmeimim airbase and the Tartus naval military base – the only two official Russian military bases outside the former Soviet Union territory – will be transformed into “joint training and capacity-building centers, under new agreements ensuring mutual interests.”
The memorandum of understanding, prepared after one and a half years of negotiations, “provides for a period not exceeding three months to complete this process,” SANA added.
At the same time, civilian facilities at both bases will be transferred to Damascus control.
Russia was the main ally of B. al Assad during the 13-year conflict in Syria and provided vital military support that helped keep the former leader’s forces in power.
B. al Assad’s ousting in 2024 was a major blow to Moscow’s influence in the region, and President Vladimir Putin is making efforts to develop relations with new officials in Damascus to secure the future of the bases.
During the negotiations, both the Hmeimim and Tartus bases continued to operate.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaadas al Shaibani visited these facilities on Sunday to “inspect the equipment and infrastructure provided for in the historic memorandum of understanding,” SANA reports.
Syria has expressed a desire to cooperate with Moscow, and President Ahmed al Sharaa has been received by V. Putin in Moscow twice since taking office.
However, Damascus has repeatedly demanded that Russia extradite B. al Assad, who has been hiding in Moscow with his wife since the day of his ousting.
Earlier this year, the Kremlin withdrew its forces from the Qamishli airport in northeastern Syria.
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