Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation

Damascus authorities terminate Russian contract for Tartus port

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Jan 2025 00:04
  • 5 Shares
3 Min Read

The new Syrian authorities are reportedly working to boost commercial activity at the port by cutting customs fees by 60%.

Listen
  • x
  • A navy missile ship departs the Russian naval facility in Tartus, Syria. AP
    A navy missile ship departs the Russian naval facility in Tartus, Syria. (AP)

Syria's transitional government has taken a decisive step to reduce Russian influence by canceling a long-standing contract with a Russian company managing the Tartus port. Riyad Judi, director of the customs department in Tartus, confirmed the development to al-Watan newspaper on Monday, noting that the revenues from the port would now go entirely to the Syrian state.

The agreement, originally signed in 2019 under Bashar al-Assad's government, granted the Russian firm Stroytransgaz control over the port for 49 years. In return, the company would invest $500 million in the port, keeping 65% of the profits while the Syrian government retained the remaining 35%.

The Tartus port, Syria's second-largest after Latakia, is a critical Mediterranean hub with a capacity of four million tons annually and home to Russia's only naval base in the region. Established in 1971 by the Soviet Union and later expanded in 2017, the base has served as a strategic outpost for Russian military operations in the Middle East.

The new Syrian authorities are reportedly working to boost commercial activity at the port by cutting customs fees by 60%. Judi highlighted the "excellent" activity at Tartus, with ships from Syria, Arab nations, and international operators transporting goods like iron, sugar, and carbonates.

Related News

Russia in talks over military bases in Syria with new government

Tensions ease in Sweida as all detainees released amid mediation

Balancing Russian ties amid western pressure

The decision to cancel the contract comes as Syria's new leadership faces mounting pressure from Western nations to sever ties with Moscow in exchange for easing economic sanctions. European officials have reportedly linked the lifting of sanctions to Syria distancing itself from Russia.

However, Syria's leadership has so far resisted calls to cut ties with Moscow. Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of the transitional government, previously affirmed Syria's strategic partnership with Russia during an interview with Al Arabiya, calling Russia "the second most powerful state in the world" and highlighting the long-standing relationship between the two nations.

Read more: Syria's new leadership asserts strategic alliance with Russia

Coinciding with the contract termination, the Russian cargo ship Sparta II docked at Tartus after reportedly waiting offshore for two weeks. Media reports suggest the ship carried military equipment, though these claims remain unverified. The docking indicates Russia's continued presence and influence in Syria, even as the new government recalibrates its foreign policy.

Future of Russian military bases

The fate of Russia's military bases in Syria—Tartus and Khmeimim—remains uncertain. Reports suggest Russia has redeployed some assets to other Middle Eastern locations, including Libya, following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. Despite this, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov has noted that Moscow remains in contact with Syria's transitional government to ensure the continued operation of its bases and broader cooperation.

Russian officials have underscored the strategic importance of their presence in Syria, citing the Tartus naval base and Khmeimim airbase as critical assets for regional stability and counterterrorism operations. Bogdanov has reiterated that Russia's military presence will not be abandoned and remains essential to its broader geopolitical goals in the Middle East.

  • Syria
  • Tartus
  • Russia
  • Russian naval base
  • Tartus port
  • HTS

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS