Syria and Russia agree on future of Tartous and Hmeimim bases

Syria and Russia have finalized an agreement on the future of Russian military installations in Tartous and Hmeimim, following an 18-month negotiation period. The memorandum of understanding, announced by the Syrian foreign ministry via the Syrian state news agency SANA, stipulates that Syrian civilian administration will take over the management of civilian facilities at both locations, including Hmeimim airport and the commercial berth at Tartous port. Military facilities are to be repurposed as joint training and qualification centers under new arrangements aimed at safeguarding the interests of both countries. The full transition is expected to be completed within three months. Russia's naval facility at Tartous and Hmeimim air base have served as Moscow's primary military presences outside the former Soviet Union. The future of these bases has been a subject of discussion with Syria's leadership since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in 2024. President Ahmad al-Sharaa has discussed the bases' fate directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The agreement also comes as Damascus seeks to reshape the wider role of Syria's Mediterranean coastline, with recent concessions signed for Tartus's main commercial port to Dubai's DP World and Latakia's container terminal to CMA CGM.