The newly established Syrian government does not intend to terminate agreements allowing Russia to operate military bases in Latakia and Tartus provinces in the near future, according to a source familiar with the ongoing discussions.
Negotiations are focused on ensuring that circumstances such as military conflicts or regime changes are not considered force majeure that could justify dissolving these agreements. The discussions also include the size and operational status of the Russian military presence.
“Russia seeks to maintain the legal status of its bases. Talks are centered on preventing military actions and regime changes from being classified as force majeure, which could nullify the long-term lease agreements for facilities in Tartus and Latakia. Until these talks are concluded, Syria does not plan to cancel the agreements,” the source told TASS.
The source further confirmed that the Syrian side has guaranteed the safety of Russian military bases during the ongoing discussions.
Background on Russian Military Presence in Syria
Russia operates two key military installations in Syria: the naval support facility in Tartus and the Khmeimim Airbase near Jableh in Latakia. The Tartus base was established in 1971 under a bilateral agreement, while the Khmeimim Airbase was set up in September 2015 to support Syrian government forces in their fight against the Islamic State (IS).
Late November saw opposition forces launch a significant offensive against Syrian army positions in Idlib and Aleppo provinces. On December 8, they entered Damascus, leading to the withdrawal of government forces and the departure of President Bashar al-Assad from the country.
Russia has initiated direct contact with the political committee of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, banned in Russia) to ensure the security of its military assets in Syria, as confirmed by Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa. President Vladimir Putin also suggested using Russian bases in Syria for the delivery of humanitarian aid, emphasizing Moscow's intent to preserve its strategic presence in the region.
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Photo: anjči/Creative Commons 2.0
Based on materials from TASS