IRIA News

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Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, expressing his country’s intention to “restore and redefine” its long-standing partnership with Russia, which was once the key ally of the ousted Assad regime.

Speaking at a joint press conference on October 15, 2025, in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, al-Sharaa emphasized that Syria “respects all past agreements and the great history” shared with Russia.

“We are trying to restore and redefine in a new way the nature of these relations so there is independence for Syria, sovereign Syria, and also its territorial unity and integrity and its security stability,” he said.

The visit marks al-Sharaa’s first official trip to Russia since assuming power in Damascus last year. The two leaders met at the Kremlin to discuss economic cooperation, energy projects, and the future of Russian military installations in Syria.

Restoring Alliance

Putin welcomed al-Sharaa to Moscow, praising the “decades of special relations” between the two nations and describing Syria’s recent parliamentary elections as a “great success” for consolidating unity after years of civil conflict.

“I believe that this is a great success for you, because it leads to the consolidation of society,” Putin said, adding that Moscow remains committed to supporting Syria’s stability and sovereignty.

The Kremlin said before the meeting that discussions would include the future of Russia’s key military facilities, the Hmeimim air base in Latakia and the Tartous naval facility, both central to Moscow’s long-term presence in the Mediterranean. Russia also maintains a smaller outpost at Qamishli airport, near the Turkish and Iraqi borders.

Al-Sharaa assured Putin that Damascus would honor all previous defense and energy agreements with Moscow. “There are bilateral relations and shared interests that bind us with Russia, and we respect all agreements made with it. We are working on redefining the nature of relations with Russia,” he said.

Economic Cooperation and Reconstruction

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told reporters after the talks that Moscow is prepared to invest in oil and infrastructure projects to help Syria rebuild after years of civil war. “Russian companies have been working in Syria for a long time, at oil fields. Some fields require development, those that are mothballed, and new fields. We are ready to participate,” Novak said.

He added that discussions focused on energy restoration, rail networks, and industrial facilities destroyed during the conflict. Syria’s heavily damaged energy sector still depends largely on Russian technology and expertise, making renewed cooperation vital for the new government’s reconstruction efforts.

In a recent interview, al-Sharaa highlighted that “Russia has close and longstanding relations with Syria, which relate to the basic structure of the state and to energy and food, for which Syria depends partly on Russian supplies, as well as some old strategic interests.”

During the meeting with the Syrian president and his team, the Russian side was represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, and Head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Federation Armed Forces, Deputy Chief of the General Staff Igor Kostyukov.

Putin is hosting new Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa in the Kremlin.

Sharaa ousted Russia's ally Bashar al-Assad from power last year but wants to "reset" relations with Moscow.

He might even let Putin keep Russia's bases in Syria. But he wants Assad back to stand trial… pic.twitter.com/QvulMueYmK

— max seddon (@maxseddon) October 15, 2025

Sensitive Visit Amid Unresolved Issues

The visit carries significant diplomatic sensitivities. Moscow was one of Assad’s staunchest allies throughout Syria’s 13-year civil war, providing decisive military support that kept the regime in power until his ouster last year. After his removal, Russia granted asylum to Bashar Al-Assad and his family, who now live discreetly in Moscow.

According to Syrian officials cited by media outlets, al-Sharaa may use his warming ties with Moscow to formally request that Russia hand over Assad to face trial in Damascus for alleged crimes against Syrians. However, no mention of the issue appeared in the leaders’ public remarks.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said earlier this week that Moscow had provided Assad refuge because his life was under threat, and he dismissed speculation that Russia would extradite him. “We have always stood by our allies in times of danger,” Lavrov said.

For Moscow, maintaining a foothold in Syria remains strategically important for its military access to the Mediterranean and its broader regional posture. For Damascus, sustaining relations with Russia offers not only reconstruction aid but also diplomatic legitimacy and leverage in negotiations with Israel and Western powers.

Military Bases and Regional Security

Sources in Damascus said al-Sharaa sought assurances that Russia would not rearm remnants of Assad’s loyalist forces and that Moscow would instead help rebuild the Syrian army under new leadership. Another source added that the Syrian delegation hoped Russia would consider redeploying military police in southern Syria as a buffer against further Israeli strikes.

Russian officials have indicated that their bases could serve dual purposes, maintaining military readiness while also acting as humanitarian and logistical hubs for aid to Africa. “We believe Damascus wants the military bases to stay,” Lavrov said, emphasizing that the facilities could be used for “logistics and support operations.”

The Kremlin remains cautious, however, about deepening its engagement amid competing priorities in Ukraine and strained relations with the West. Nonetheless, Putin assured al-Sharaa that Moscow would “do all it can” to act on “many interesting and useful beginnings” discussed during the talks.

Rebuilding Ties and Legitimacy

Despite having fought on opposite sides during the civil war, al-Sharaa’s government has taken a pragmatic stance toward Russia, seeking to rebuild ties that were historically rooted in Soviet-era cooperation. Analysts say the move reflects Damascus’s desire to balance regional partnerships while asserting its post-war independence.

For Syria, Russia’s continued involvement offers critical access to energy resources, trade, and reconstruction assistance, as well as potential backing in international forums where Western recognition remains limited. For Moscow, engaging with the new Syrian leadership allows it to preserve influence in the Middle East and demonstrate resilience in its long-term foreign policy.

Al-Sharaa’s visit concluded with both sides agreeing to establish a joint economic commission to oversee reconstruction projects and to resume direct flights between Damascus and Moscow, symbolic steps toward what both leaders described as a “redefined partnership” built on shared history and mutual interests.