Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed the importance of the memorandum of understanding signed by the two countries on August 9 to reorganize Russian bases in Syria, during a phone call on Wednesday, August 26.
The Kremlin said Putin reiterated during the call his support for Syria’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as efforts to create conditions for long-term stability and post-conflict reconstruction.
The two sides also expressed their readiness to deepen political dialogue and cooperation in trade, economic, humanitarian, and other fields.
The two presidents discussed the current situation and prospects for developing bilateral relations as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between the two countries across various sectors.
The call was the first between the two presidents since the memorandum of understanding was signed, leading to the Syrian government’s management of civilian facilities previously controlled by Russia on the Syrian coast.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry described the memorandum as the most significant agreement since negotiations between the two sides began, saying it would contribute to building a new phase in Syrian-Russian relations.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also described the Syrian-Russian agreement as “an important step in military cooperation.”
Syria’s new government has maintained good relations with Russia despite Moscow’s longstanding support for the Assad regime during the years of war in Syria. President al-Sharaa has made two visits to Moscow in recent months, alongside other visits by Syrian officials at the political and military levels.
Details of the Syrian-Russian Agreement
The Syrian Foreign Ministry announced that an understanding had been reached with the Russian government under which Damascus would take over the management of civilian facilities previously controlled by Russia on the Syrian coast.
The official Syrian Arab News Agency, SANA, quoted the Foreign Ministry’s Communications and Media Department on August 9 as saying that the civilian facilities to be managed by Syria included Hmeimim Airport and commercial berth No. 4 at the Port of Tartous.
The ministry said the two sides agreed to convert the Russian military bases into joint training and rehabilitation centers in a way that preserves mutual interests.
The memorandum of understanding also set a three-month deadline to complete the conversion process, after which the new arrangements will take effect.
The General Authority for Land and Sea Ports and Customs said the Syrian side had taken control of the commercial sites previously used by Russia at the Port of Tartous, including berth No. 4, its warehouses, and affiliated facilities.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport said Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani visited Latakia International Airport accompanied by the head of the aviation authority, Omar Hosari.
It added that the visit followed the signing of the Syrian-Russian memorandum of understanding, which paved the way for the airport’s management to return to the Syrian side.
Russia’s military presence in Syria has been repositioned in recent months and is now limited to two sites on the Syrian coast, Hmeimim Air Base and the Tartous Naval Base, after years of a broad military deployment during Assad’s rule.