Syria’s interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for discussions, notable as this marked their first engagement since Sharaa’s ousting of Bashar al-Assad, a key ally of Russia, approximately ten months ago. During the meeting, Putin emphasized the “special relationship” shared by the two nations.
Sharaa indicated his willingness to permit Russia continued access to its military bases in Syria. He was also expected to address the potential extradition of Assad, who has been living in asylum after fleeing to Moscow. This meeting comes after a prolonged period of hostilities, during which Russia supported Assad with military intervention while Sharaa’s Islamist group led the insurgency against him.
Putin acknowledged the historic ties between Russia and Syria, stating that there are “quite a few interesting and useful undertakings” on their agenda, confirming Russia’s readiness to assist in fulfilling these objectives. Sharaa expressed a desire for Syria to re-establish its relations globally, with particular emphasis on strengthening ties with Russia, aiming for a sovereign, unified, and stable Syria.
Russia seeks to maintain access to the Tartous naval port and the Hmeimim military airbase located along Syria’s Mediterranean coast. Sharaa affirmed that Syria would abide by existing agreements, implying an openness to continued collaboration. In exchange, Sharaa is looking for support to reinforce his power within Syria, enhance border security, and revitalize the struggling economy, seeking access to Russian investments and energy resources.
Russian officials have stated they are prepared to offer humanitarian aid to Syria, including food and medical supplies, as well as support for rebuilding essential infrastructure. However, underlying tensions persist, particularly regarding Sharaa’s expected request for Assad’s extradition to face war crimes charges, a move that may not find favor with Russia, given its recent justification for granting Assad asylum due to perceived threats to his safety.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c201p2dd6r4o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss