Ahmed al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of Syria’s new Islamist government, has
emphasized the country’s “strategic interests” in maintaining strong relations
with Russia, including the continued presence of Moscow’s military bases.
Speaking on Sunday in an interview with Al Arabiya, al-Sharaa—also known by his
nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Julani—indicated that his administration does not
plan to push for the removal of Russian installations from Syrian territory.
The future of Russia’s military presence in Syria became uncertain after
Islamist factions, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), overthrew former
President Bashar al-Assad and took control of Damascus in late November.
Russian forces currently operate the Khmeimim Air Base and a naval logistics
facility in Tartus, both situated on Syria’s Mediterranean coast. These bases
were established under a 2017 agreement allowing Moscow’s troops to remain for
49 years.
In his remarks, al-Sharaa described Russia as the “second most powerful
country in the world” and highlighted the importance of preserving diplomatic
and strategic ties. “We do not want Russia to leave Syria in a manner that
disregards the historical relationship between our two nations,” he stated. The
HTS leader added that the new Syrian government seeks to avoid provoking
conflicts with foreign powers, aiming instead for a cooperative approach.
Earlier this month, al-Sharaa similarly told reporters that the new
leadership is committed to offering Russia an opportunity to “reassess its
relationship with Syria in a way that serves mutual interests.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking to RIA Novosti, reaffirmed
the legality of agreements governing Russia’s military presence in Syria. He
said Moscow is ready to engage in discussions with the new Syrian authorities
after the transition period ends on March 1.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also commented on the situation, confirming
that Moscow remains in contact with Syria’s new leadership. “Everything will be
resolved through dialogue,” he assured reporters.
Reports from TASS earlier this month suggested that Russia had secured
temporary security guarantees for its military installations, allowing
operations at Khmeimim and Tartus to continue as usual.
The dramatic shift in Syria’s political landscape followed a rapid offensive
launched by HTS and allied opposition groups in late November. Within days,
they captured vast territories across the country, culminating in the seizure
of Damascus. The speed and scale of the operation shocked observers, forcing
Assad to step down and flee to Russia, where he has since sought asylum.