Russia struggling to retain two military bases in Syria: Bloomberg
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Two senior Turkish officials say the new Syrian leadership is unlikely to permit Russia to retain its bases, given that Russian warplanes previously targeted opposition forces during the war in Syria.
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A portrait of Russia's President Vladimir Putin hangs above as Russian military trucks enter the Russian-leased Syrian military base of Hmeimim in Latakia province in western Syria on December 29, 2024. (AFP)
Russia is facing difficulties in maintaining control over two military bases in Syria, which have been crucial for projecting its influence in the Middle East and Africa, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing a source in Moscow familiar with the situation.
Negotiations with Syria’s new government have stalled, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Russian operations at the Hmeimim airbase have been scaled back, and two transport ships were held up for weeks before Syrian authorities granted them access to the Tartus naval base to remove military equipment, the source added.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for the Middle East, arrived in Damascus on Tuesday, marking the first visit by a Moscow delegation since the shift in power in Syria, according to Russia’s state-run TASS news agency.
The Kremlin had been hopeful that Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group that led last month’s ousting of Bashar al-Assad's regime, would allow Russia to maintain its presence at the bases.
Tartus remains Russia’s only naval outpost in the Mediterranean, while Hmeimim serves as a key logistical hub for Moscow’s operations across Africa.
At least one Russian vessel, the Sparta II, designed to transport wheeled cargo such as trucks, departed the Tartus port area on Tuesday, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg.
In 2017, Russia secured 49-year leases for the Tartus base and Hmeimim airfield. Turkiye, which supported the opposition in toppling al-Assad, opposes Moscow’s continued military presence in the country.
Two senior Turkish officials stated that the new Syrian leadership is unlikely to permit Russia to retain its bases, given that Russian warplanes previously targeted opposition forces during the war on Syria.
Turkiye has offered to supply Syria’s armed forces with weapons and military training, as much of the country's military infrastructure has been decimated by Israeli airstrikes since al-Assad’s removal.
European powers have intensified diplomatic engagement with Syria’s new authorities. The German and French foreign ministers visited Damascus shortly after the New Year as the EU seeks to curb Russian influence in Syria, Bloomberg said.
EU foreign ministers reached a preliminary agreement on Monday outlining a roadmap to gradually ease sanctions on Syria, the bloc’s chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, told reporters.
Additionally, some Group of Seven (G7) nations and their allies have explored alternative supply routes to reduce Syria’s dependence on Russian oil and food imports. Ukraine, which sent a shipment of wheat to Syria in December, has pledged further deliveries following a visit by its foreign and agricultural ministers.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin stated on Wednesday that Russia is working to establish a dialogue with Syria’s new administration as it seeks to secure the future of its military presence in the country.
A Syrian source familiar with the talks told Reuters that the leader of the new Syrian administration Ahmad al-Sharaa requested that Russia hand over al-Assad and his close associates during negotiations with Bogdanov.
Commenting on this report, Peskov told reporters, "No, I will leave that without comment."
Syria demands compensation from Russia
Earlier, the new Syrian government mentioned that discussions between the Russian delegation and Syrian administration leader Ahmad al-Sharaa covered Moscow’s potential role in Syria’s reconstruction and restoration.
"The Russian delegation, led by Special Representative for the Middle East Mikhail Bogdanov, met with the new Syrian administration in Damascus ... The dialogue revealed Russia's role in restoring trust in relations with the Syrian people through tangible measures such as compensation, reconstruction and restoration," the Syrian government stated on Telegram.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of respecting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as mechanisms for ensuring justice during the transitional period, the statement noted.
According to the government, Damascus reaffirmed its intentions to engage "with all interested parties." Al-Sharaa reportedly stated that "restoring relations" between Syria and Russia should "heal" past mistakes, reflect respect for the Syrian people’s will, and serve their interests.
The statement did not specify the form of compensation Syria is requesting from Russia and made no mention of the two key Russian military bases in Syria that the Kremlin is keen to retain.
Bogdanov stated on Tuesday that Russia and Syria have agreed to continue consultations regarding the future of Russian military bases in Syria, with no current changes to their presence.
He clarified that the agreement on the management of the Tartus port is purely a technical matter.
"This is a purely technical issue related to the work of our company. I think it is possible to find some mutually acceptable solutions to the issues," he said in response to inquiries about whether the issue was discussed during talks in Damascus, following media reports suggesting Syria had terminated the investment agreement with Russia.
In a related context, the Russian diplomat said a Russian interdepartmental delegation held discussions in Damascus with al-Sharaa, describing the talks, which lasted approximately three hours, as constructive.
"The meeting was generally constructive, and the atmosphere was good. But we understand how difficult the situation is [in the country]," Bogdanov told reporters.
He added that the talks in Damascus also addressed trade and economic cooperation.
The Russian diplomat also emphasized Russia’s steadfast position in supporting Syria’s unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty.
