On Thursday, July 31, Russia and Syria announced their intention to strengthen bilateral ties and revisit agreements signed under the former Moscow-aligned government of ex-president Bashar al-Assad—amid uncertainty surrounding the future of two Russian military bases in Syria. The foreign ministers of the two countries met in Moscow, marking the first visit by a senior Syrian official to Russia since Assad's ouster.
On July 31, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met in Moscow with Syria’s new foreign minister, Assad al-Shaibani—the first official visit by a Syrian government representative since Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in last year’s rapid rebel advance, despite years of support he had received from Moscow.
During talks in the Russian capital, al-Shaibani sought support and emphasized his interest in maintaining cooperation. According to reports, Assad fled to Russia after losing power. Since his ouster, no senior Syrian official had visited Moscow—the principal backer of the former regime.
“Of course, it’s important for us that Russia remains at our side,” al-Shaibani said, adding that certain factors in the relationship complicate the dialogue.
The naval base in Tartus and the airbase in Khmeimim, both located on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, remain Russia’s only official military installations outside the former Soviet Union. It was from these bases that Moscow launched its large-scale air campaign in 2015 in support of Assad, marked by intense bombardments of rebel-held areas.
It remains unclear whether Syria’s new Islamist government will allow Russia continued access to these facilities. The lease agreement, signed under the previous regime, runs through 2066, but its future was not addressed during the talks.
Lavrov expressed Russia’s willingness to assist in Syria’s reconstruction after more than a decade of war, as well as to revisit “agreements and contracts signed under different political circumstances.” His position was echoed by al-Shaibani, who stated that such agreements need to be reassessed to determine whether they truly serve the interests of the Syrian people.
“Syria needs friends and partners in this transitional period,” he said at a press conference following the talks. Lavrov, for his part, stressed that Russia’s historical support for Syria “does not depend on political circumstances or changes of government.”