Putin and Syrian leader to address the future of Russian bases in Arab nation, according to the Kremlin

Moscow.– Russian President Vladimir Putin will address today in his first meeting with his Syrian counterpart, Ahmed al Sharaa, the future of Russian bases in Syria, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said. “It is evident that the issue of the bases will be touched upon in one way or another during the meeting with the president. Yes, it is something that can be expected,” he said in his daily telephone press conference. He added that the leaders are not expected to hold a press conference at the end of the negotiations. Russia has two military bases in Syria: the naval base in Tartus and the Hmeimim air base, whose fate is in question after the fall of the former Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, currently taking refuge in Moscow. Al Sharaa arrived this Wednesday in the Russian capital on an official visit to Russia, “within the framework of the restructuring of bilateral relations between the two countries and the negotiation of political and economic cooperation”, according to the official Syrian news agency, SANA. The Syrian head of state will meet with Putin “to address regional and international events of mutual interest and explore ways to develop cooperation that serves the common interests of both countries”, as well as hold a meeting “with the Syrian community in Russia”.

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The visit takes place on the same day as the meeting between the Arab League and Russia was scheduled, a summit that was ultimately postponed following the agreement between Israel and Hamas. Last February, the Syrian president received a phone call from Putin, who “reaffirmed his country’s support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and stability of Syria”, and expressed “Russia’s willingness to reconsider the agreements signed with the former regime and the need to lift the economic sanctions imposed on the country”, according to SANA. So far, more details of Al Sharaa’s agenda in Moscow are unknown. Since the overthrow last year of Al Asad, who was in power since 2000, the new Syrian administration and the Kremlin have opted for pragmatism and formality in relations despite Russian military support for the previous Syrian regime. Al Asad has been taking refuge in Moscow since he fled the offensive led by Al Sharaa and his regime fell on December 8th.