Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa assured Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that he intends to abide by all previous agreements between Syria and Moscow, indicating that key Russian military bases in the country are secure. Shaaraa, who led al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch and who toppled former President Bashar al-Assad late last year, met with Putin in Moscow for his first official visit since taking office. Speaking in Arabic, Shaaraa stressed the bilateral ties and common interests between Syria and Russia, noting that the nature of those relations is being rethought. Putin said Moscow was ready to act on “very interesting and useful initiatives” discussed earlier to renew cooperation.
After the talks, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Moscow was ready to support oil projects in Syria and help rebuild infrastructure, including energy and railway systems, damaged by years of civil war. He explained that Russian companies have long been working in Syrian oil fields, some of which require development or reactivation, and Moscow is ready to participate in these projects.
Before the meeting, the Kremlin said the talks would cover the future of Russia's two main bases in Syria: the Khmeimim air base in Latakia province and the naval base in Tartus. Russia also maintains a military presence at the Qamishli airport in the northeast, near the Turkish and Iraqi borders. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Damascus intended for those bases to remain operational and could be used as logistical hubs for delivering aid to Africa.
Syrian authorities are seeking assurances that Russia will not support the rearmament of the remnants of Assad's forces. Sharaa is also expected to ask Moscow for help rebuilding the Syrian army. In addition, the Syrian president is seeking economic concessions, including lucrative wheat supply deals and compensation for war damages. Sources say Sharaa may press Russia to help counter Israeli demands for an expanded demilitarized zone in southern Syria and possibly redeploy Russian military police as a deterrent against further Israeli action.
Sharaa’s visit is particularly sensitive given Russia’s longstanding military support for Assad. Moscow granted asylum to Assad and his family after Sharaa’s rise to power, with the former president now living discreetly in Moscow. Syrian sources told Reuters that Sharaa intends to formally request Assad’s extradition to stand trial for alleged crimes against Syrians, although Russia is unlikely to agree.
