Russia's silence on Syrian demand regarding military bases

Wednesday 29 January 2025 - 15:05

Russia has remained silent about reports that Syria has demanded the return of Bashar al-Assad in exchange for allowing Moscow to keep its military bases in the country. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment when asked about the matter, despite a recent high-level Russian delegation's visit to Syria. The delegation, led by Mikhail Bogdanov, President Putin’s special envoy for the Middle East and Africa, held talks with Syria’s new de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Al-Assad, a crucial ally for Russia in the Middle East, fled to Moscow after being ousted in a rapid rebel offensive, which marked the end of over 50 years of Assad family rule, accused of extensive human rights violations. This marked a setback for Russia, which had used its Syrian military bases to support the Assad regime and extend its international influence.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the discussions were “frank” and focused on retaining the Tartous naval base and Khmeimim airbase, both vital to Russian operations in the region. Unconfirmed reports suggested that al-Sharaa demanded al-Assad’s return to Syria and reparations as a condition for Moscow maintaining its presence. Syria’s Sanaa news agency quoted al-Sharaa asking Russia to rebuild trust through measures such as compensation and reconstruction.

The Syrian administration emphasized that restoring relations required addressing past mistakes, respecting the will of the Syrian people, and serving their interests. The Russian Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity but did not confirm the specifics of the discussions.

Peskov described the visit as "important," stressing the need for ongoing dialogue with Syrian authorities. The Russian military bases in Syria, located on the Mediterranean coast in Latakia province, have become key to Russia's international ambitions. Tartous and Khmeimim are Russia’s only military outposts outside the former Soviet Union.

Despite a "frank discussion" between the two sides, Russia’s foreign ministry did not mention the bases specifically and indicated that further negotiations would take place. A Syrian source revealed that Russia was unwilling to acknowledge its “mistakes,” and no concrete agreement was reached beyond the continuation of talks.