Moscow Contacts Between Syria and Russia

Syria's foreign and defense ministers met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday to expand military, political and economic cooperation with a focus on strategic cooperation in defense industries, according to Syrian state news agency SANA. 

In October, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa paid an official visit to Russia, which he said his government would honor all past agreements between Damascus and Moscow, a promise that Russia's two main military bases in Syria are safe. At the time, Putin said that Moscow was ready to do everything in its power to take action on what the two parties called "a lot of interesting and useful starts" discussed about renewing relations. 
 

According to state media in both countries, Syria-Russia relations are entering a new era based on mutual respect after the meeting of Syrian foreign and defense ministers with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the foreign minister in Moscow. 
 

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), al-Shaybani said, “We continue the reconstruction in Syria with a strong national will and we aspire to establish balanced relations with all countries. According to Al-Shaibani at the meeting, Damascus managed to achieve success in various fields last year. "First of all, this year marked the end of a 14-year war. The greatest success we have achieved is to lift sanctions from Syria. We are currently busy rebuilding the country." SANA added that Al-Shaibani is making efforts to attract investment in Syria to improve the economic situation. 
 

Meanwhile, the news agency added that Lavrov emphasized the importance of protecting Syria's territorial unity and developing bilateral cooperation between the two countries. According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), al-Shaybani said, “We continue the reconstruction in Syria with a strong national will and we aspire to establish balanced relations with all countries. 
 

According to Al-Shaibani at the meeting, Damascus managed to achieve success in various fields last year. "First of all, this year marked the end of a 14-year war. The greatest success we have achieved is to lift sanctions from Syria. We are currently busy rebuilding the country. 
 

SANA added that Al-Shaibani is making efforts to attract investment in Syria to improve the economic situation. Meanwhile, the news agency added that Lavrov emphasized the importance of protecting Syria's territorial unity and developing bilateral cooperation between the two countries. 
 

SANA met on Tuesday with President Putin's al-Shabani and Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Kasra in talks focusing on political, economic and military issues that are "mutual interest" with a "specific emphasis" on defense. 
According to SANA, Putin and Syrian ministers discussed a number of defense-related issues, including developing military cooperation, modernizing its equipment, transferring expertise, and collaborating in research and development to strengthen the capabilities of the Syrian army. "During the meeting, both sides reviewed ways to advance military and technical partnership in a way that would strengthen the defense capabilities of the Syrian Arab Army and keep pace with modern developments in the military industries," SANA said.According to the news agency, the two sides also discussed political and economic issues, including "the importance of ongoing political and diplomatic coordination between Damascus and Moscow in international forums". 
 

On the economic front, negotiations dealt with the expansion of Syrian-Russian cooperation, including restructuring projects, infrastructure development and investment in Syria. Russia used its military power for years to support Shara's predecessor, Bashar al-Assad, against Syrian rebels. Assad was overthrown when Sha'aat-led rebels came to power in December last year, and Moscow later granted him and his family the right to asylum. 
 

Putin also reaffirmed Russia's "solid support" for Syria and its territorial integrity, reinfreshing "Moscow's repeated condemnation of Israel's repeated violation of Syrian territory and describing them as a direct threat to regional security and stability." 
 

The ministers' visit to Moscow is the last visit by Syria's new officials since Bashar al-Assad, the country's longtime ruler and Moscow's former ally in Damascus, was removed from power last December.Russia was a major supporter of Assad during Syria's nearly 14 years of civil war, providing vital military assistance that held its regime in power, including Russian support that rained airstrikes on rebel-controlled areas.Although he fled to Russia after the overthrow of Assad and his family's regime, Moscow is eager to establish good relations with the new government in Damascus. 
 

Moscow, in particular, hopes to reach agreements to continue operating the Khmeimim air base and Tartous naval base on Syria's Mediterranean coast, where Russian forces continue to be present. 
 

In October, Syria's new president Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Russia, where he said his government would honor all past agreements between Damascus and Moscow, suggesting that the two Russian military bases were safe in the post-Assad period. 
During al-Sharaa's visit, Putin said he was ready to do everything in his power to act on what Moscow called "many interesting and useful beginnings" discussed by the two parties about renewing relations.During his visit to Moscow in July, al-Shaibani said that his country wants Russia "on our side". 
 

“The current period is full of various challenges and threats, but it is also an opportunity to build a united and strong Syria. And of course, we are interested in having Russia with us on this road," al-Shaibani told Lavrov at the time. 
 
REFERENCES 
 
Reuters. (2025, 23 December). Syria ministers meet Putin to discuss defence, economic cooperation, SANA says. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/russias-lavrov-meet-syrian-counterpart-talks-moscow-tass-cites-foreign-ministry-2025-12-23/   
 

Doyle, K., & News Agencies. (2025, 24 December). Syria-Russia ties entering ‘new stage’ as foreign ministers meet in Moscow. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/24/syria-ministers-discuss-military-cooperation-with-putin-in-russia-report