Putin and al-Sharaa discuss Russia-Syria relations, deal on military bases

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa have held discussions, including on the fate of Russia's military bases in the Middle Eastern country.

Key points

• It are key to Russian efforts to maintain influence throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa.
• The Kremlin stressed that the discussion additionally concerned deepening political dialogue and cooperation in trade, among other areas.
• Nevertheless, the status of the Khmeimim airbase and Tartous naval base.
• The discussions were aimed at further development of bilateral relations and strengthened cooperation, SANA observed.

During a telephone call on Wednesday, Putin affirmed Moscow's backing for Syria's territorial integrity and reiterated Russia's rejection of Israeli attacks and violations of Syrian sovereignty, reports Syrian news agency SANA.

In practice, the Kremlin stressed that the discussion additionally concerned deepening political dialogue and cooperation in trade, among other areas.

In practice, the discussions were aimed at further development of bilateral relations and strengthened cooperation, SANA observed.

Nevertheless, the status of the Khmeimim airbase and Tartous naval base. It are highly strategic for Russia, remains the key topic between Damascus and Moscow.

According to The Kremlin, russia-Syria relations will continue through continued contact "at various levels" and that "both sides underscored the importance of the Memorandum of Understanding On the Reorganisation of the Khmeimim Air Base and the Tartus Material-Technical Support Point, signed on August 9".

Syria confirmed earlier this month that a agreement had been agreed after 18 months of negotiations that will see Khmeimim and Tartous turned into "joint training and capacity-building centres", with Syria to take control of civilian facilities at both bases.

Russia backed former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad throughout Syria's 13-year civil war, intervening militarily to keep him in power and expanding the Russian footprint at the Khmeimim air base and Tartous naval base on the Mediterranean coast.

Since al-Sharaa led the ouster of the a; -Assad regime, Putin has worked to build relations with the new Syrian administration and to secure the future of the bases. It are key to Russian efforts to maintain influence throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa.

In short, putin and al-Sharaa discuss Russia-Syria relations, deal on military bases is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.