Damascus, Aug. 9 (SANA)A memorandum of understanding betweenSyriaandRussiato reorganize Moscow’s presence on the Syrian coast marks a new stage in bilateral relations after about 18 months of intensive negotiations aimed at redefining ties in line with Syria’s new political landscape and its emphasis on sovereignty and national interests.

Under the memorandum announced on Sunday, Syria will begin reorganizing the Russian presence along its coast, with the Syrian state assuming management of civilian facilities, including Hmeimim Airport and the fourth commercial berth at Tartous Port, paving the way for their gradual integration into civilian administration.

The agreement follows a series of diplomatic contacts and negotiations that began after Syria’s liberation from the deposed regime, as Damascus moved to redefine its relations with other countries on the basis of national sovereignty and mutual interests.

Ties with Russia had been governed under the ousted regime by agreements and arrangements that raised questions over their nature and the extent to which they served Syrian national interests.

The new phase inSyrian-Russian relationsbegan to take shape on Jan. 29, 2025, when PresidentAhmad al-Sharaareceived a Russian delegation headed by Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian president’s special envoy to the Middle East.

President al-Sharaa said restoring relations with Russia should address past mistakes, respect the will of the Syrian people, and serve their interests, stressing that Syria would engage with all stakeholders on principled grounds to build a future based on justice, dignity and sovereignty.

The Russian side expressed support for positive changes taking place in Syria. Talks also addressed Russia’s role in rebuilding trust with the Syrian people through measures including compensation, reconstruction and recovery.

On Feb. 12, 2025, President al-Sharaa received a telephone call from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who expressed support for Syria’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and stability and said Moscow was prepared to review agreements concluded with the deposed regime.

Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani‘s visit to Moscow on July 31, 2025, marked another significant step, with talks with Putin focusing on a new phase of political and military understanding based on respect for Syrian sovereignty and support for the country’s territorial integrity.

Putin reiterated Russia’s opposition to Israeli intervention or attempts to divide Syria and expressed Moscow’s commitment to supporting reconstruction and stability.Minister al-Shaibani also met Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, who reaffirmed Moscow’s support for Syria’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity and its readiness to assist economic recovery and reconstruction efforts.

On Sept. 9, 2025, President al-Sharaa received a senior Russian delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, with talks focusing on developing bilateral relations and cooperation across several sectors.

During meetings with the delegation, al-Shaibani said Syrian-Russian relations had gone through different periods of friendship and cooperation but had at times lacked balance.

He said Syria’s liberation had provided an opportunity to open a new chapter based on mutual respect, adding that any foreign presence on Syrian territory should serve the Syrian people’s efforts to build their future.Minister al-Shaibani also met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, who reaffirmed Moscow’s support for Syria’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and its readiness to assist economic recovery and reconstruction efforts.

On Sept. 9, 2025, President al-Sharaa received a senior Russian delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, with talks focusing on developing bilateral relations and cooperation across several sectors.

During meetings with the delegation, al-Shaibani said Syrian-Russian relations had gone through different periods of friendship and cooperation but had at times lacked balance.

He said Syria’s liberation had provided an opportunity to open a new chapter based on mutual respect, adding that any foreign presence on Syrian territory should serve the Syrian people’s efforts to build their future.

Ahead of President al-Sharaa’s first visit to Moscow in mid-October 2025, Lavrov said Putin had repeatedly made clear that Russia would not remain in Syria if the Syrian leadership opposed its presence.

Lavrov also raised the possibility of assigning a humanitarian role to the Russian presence, including establishing a center that could use the port and airport to deliver humanitarian assistance.

President al-Sharaa made his first visit to Moscow on Oct. 15, meeting Putin at the Kremlin for talks on bilateral relations and ways to strengthen strategic cooperation.

The Syrian president said the country had entered a new phase in which it was seeking to rebuild political and strategic relations with regional and international powers, including Russia. He stressed the importance of reviewing the nature of those relations while ensuring the independence of Syrian decision-making and respect for national sovereignty.

For his part, President Putin said Syrian-Russian relations stretched back more than 80 years and stressed the importance of resuming the work of the joint governmental commission and strengthening economic cooperation.

Diplomatic contacts continued in the following months. Al-Shaibani returned to Moscow on Dec. 24, 2025, for talks with Lavrov on supporting Syria’s recovery, reconstruction, and stability, as well as preserving the country’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

President al-Sharaa made his second visit to Moscow on Jan. 28, 2026, holding expanded talks with Putin and senior officials from both countries.

Al-Sharaa highlighted Russia’s role in supporting Syria’s unity and stability and said the country had overcome major challenges over the previous year, including the unification of its territory, expressing hope for a transition toward stability and peace.

Putin called for further development of bilateral ties, particularly economic relations, and described the return of areas east of the Euphrates to Syrian state authority as an important step toward strengthening the country’s territorial unity.

A senior Russian delegation visited Damascus on Feb. 4, 2026, including Housing Minister Irek Faizullin, Russian presidential adviser Igor Levitin and Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Yunus-Bek Yevkurov.

The delegation held talks with al-Shaibani and Defense Minister Maj. Gen. Murhaf Abu Qasra on Russia’s military presence and prospects for military cooperation under arrangements intended to serve mutual interests.

The discussions also covered ways to expand economic and development cooperation.The series of meetings formed part of a gradual process to reorganize Syrian-Russian relations and place issues surrounding Russia’s presence in Syria within a framework agreed by the two governments.

The memorandum announced on Sunday forms part of Syria’s efforts to rebuild its foreign relations on the basis of national sovereignty, mutual respect and shared interests.

The agreement goes beyond arrangements governing Russia’s presence on the Syrian coast. It represents a broader effort by Damascus to reshape a relationship that for years was closely tied to the political and military circumstances of the former regime and establish new terms that place Syrian sovereignty and national interests at the center of bilateral ties.