Syria Reaches Deal With Putin On Future Of Two Russian Bases That Helped Assad In Mediterranean

Syria and Russia have reached a deal on the future of Hmeimim air base and Tartus naval base, two key Russian sites on Syria’s Mediterranean coast that played a major role in supporting ousted President Bashar al-Assad during the country’s war.

The agreement comes after about 18 months of talks and marks a major change in Russia’s military presence in Syria. Under the deal, Syria will take control of civilian facilities at Hmeimim and the commercial side of Tartus port. The transition is expected to be completed within three months.

Hmeimim Airport will be brought under Syrian civilian control. At Tartus, Syria will take over the commercial facilities, including Pier No. 4, warehouses and other related infrastructure. Russia had earlier sought to turn Pier No. 4 into a commercial logistics hub, but any future operations there will remain subject to approval from Syrian authorities.

The military facilities at both sites will be turned into joint Russia-Syria training and qualification centres. Damascus has described the move as a reorganisation of the Russian presence on Syria’s coast. Russia had not immediately commented on the agreement.

The deal is important because Hmeimim and Tartus have been central to Moscow’s role in the Middle East. Hmeimim became Russia’s main air base in Syria after Moscow entered the war in 2015, while Tartus gave the Russian Navy its main support point in the Mediterranean.

Russia was one of Assad’s strongest allies from 2011 until his ouster in December 2024. Moscow did not intervene during the final rebel offensive but later gave Assad and his family asylum in Russia. Russian forces then withdrew from several parts of Syria while keeping a presence around the two coastal sites.

Since taking power, interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has met Vladimir Putin twice in Moscow, with the future of the bases among the key issues discussed.

The agreement shows that Damascus is not cutting ties with Moscow. Instead, Syria is seeking greater control over its territory while keeping military cooperation with Russia.

At the same time, Syria has expanded ties with the United States, Europe and Arab countries. Washington has lifted most major sanctions on Damascus, while French President Emmanuel Macron visited Syria in July and announced plans to restore ambassador-level relations after 14 years. The new deal therefore gives Syria more control over two strategic sites while allowing Russia to keep a military role through joint training.